Full text of "History of the Philadelphia almshouses and hospitals : from the beginning of the eighteenth to the ending of the nineteenth centuries, covering a period of nearly two hundred years, showing the mode of distributing public relief through the management of the boards of overseers of the poor, guardians of the poor and the directors of the Department of Charities and Correction. With an appendix containing a list of former visiting and resident physicians. Illustrated from photographs"

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PRINTED IN U.S.A.

HISTORY

OF THE

PHILADELPHIA ALMSHOUSES

AND

HOSPITALS

FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE EIGHTEENTH TO THE ENDING OF
THE NINETEENTH CENTURIES,

COVERING A PERIOD OF

NEARLY TWO HUNDRED YEARS

SHOWING THE MODE OF

DISTRIBUTING PUBLIC RELIEF THROUGH THE MANAGEMENT OF

THE BOARDS OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR, GUARDIANS

OF THE POOR AND THE DIRECTORS OF THE

DEPARTMENT OF CHARITIES AND

CORRECTION

WITIi ^X APPENDIX

CONTAINING A LIST OF FORMER VISITING AND RESIDENT PHYSICIANS

ILLUSTRATED FROM PHOTOGRAPHS

COMPILED AND PUBLISHED BY

CHARLES LAWRENCE

SUPERINTENDENT FROM 1891 TO 19»i0
^905

All Risrhfs Reserved.

MAJOR WILLIAM H . LAMBERT,

WHOSE EXCELLENT SERVICES

PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

THE DEPARTMENT OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTION

SHOULD EVER BE

HELD IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE

THIS

VOLUME IS DEDICATED

A SLIGHT TOKEN OF RESPECT AND ESTEEM.

PREFACE.

IN THE preparation of the following " History of the Philadelphia
Almshouses and Hospitals" the fact was borne in mind that history
must be a truthful account of happenings and anything inserted
that is not true destroys its value and it ceases to be reliable.

In collecting the data all kinds of official records, minute books, laws,
ordinances, reports, addresses, histories and newspapers were consulted to
obtain the desired information ; in fact, consideration was given to every-
thing available that was trustworthy. This was arranged to make a
continued and connected statement of the government of the institutions
and the distribution of the public charities from the beginning of the
Higliteenth to the close of the Nineteenth Centuries, covering a period of
nearly two hundred years.

The great difficulties under which some of the Guardians of the
Poor labored are referred to, and enough stated to show the character of
the men engaged in the work.

The principal events that created scandal and reflected on the manage-
ment are shown from official records and they tend to make the good
work performed appear brighter and better by comparison.

The great improvement made in the treatment of the inmates, espec-
ially in the Insane and Hospital Departments, are noted, and it is very
gratifying to know that wnth the exception of the limited capacity of
the wards it will compare favorably with that of any in this country.

As the transferring of the ground purchased for the present Alms-
house, to other Trustees for other purposes, prevents the proper enlarge-

6 Preface.

ment of buildings for the accommodation of the constantly growing
population, thereby necessitating removal, the ordinances providing for
the transfers are quoted fully, together with the provisos and agreements
forming part of them. A careful reading will show how much they have
been complied with.

Nine years experience as Superintendent of the institution, in addi-
tion to a knowledge of the details of previous administrations, were of
considerable value in preparing the manuscript, and although much labor
was involved it was cheerfully given in an endeavor to make it as near
complete as possible.

A carefully prepared list of the former Visiting and Resident Phy-
sicians will be found in the Appendix.

C. L.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
DESCRIPTION OF FIRST ALMSHOUSE-SPRUCE STREET ALMSHOUSE

OPENED 17

William Pemi Advocates Charity — First Almshouse Established by the
" Friends' " — Acts Relating to Almshouses — Description of Friends' Almshouse
— Order of 17 17, Compelling Paupers to Wear Roman P on their vSleeves — Act
to Authorize the Erection of Workhouses in Philadelphia, Bristol and Chester
— Overseers Present Memorial to the Legislature in 1729 — Act to Loan the
Mavor ^"1,000 to Purchase Ground and to Erect an Almshouse — Building
Erected in 17:^1 or 1732 — Hospital for Sick and Insane Connected with the
Almshouse — Philadelphia Hospital the Oldest in this Countrj' — Act to Regu-
late Legal Settlements— Complaints Against the Overseers of the Poor — " Con-
tributors to the Relief and Employment of the Poor" Incorporated — First
Meeting Held May 12, 1766 — List of Managers — Lot Bounded by Spruce, Pine,
Tenth and Eleventh Streets Purchased for ^iSoo — Motto Adopted for Seal —
Overseers Elected to Distribute Out-door Relief— New Almshouse and House of
Employment— Opening October, 1767 — Friction Between Officials — ^John Dick-
inson, Esq., Celebrated his Wedding by Donating ^,"200 to the Poor — F'looded
by Nova Scotia Exiles— Severe Winter of 1775— John Petty and William
Carter Died— Their Wills Provided for Distribution of Bread— Manner of
Selecting Overseers — Troops Interfered with Holding Meetings in Court House
—Board Adjourned to Meet at the "Golden Fleece" — Trying Times for the
Poor.

CHAPTER II.
PAUPERS TURNED INTO THE STREETS BY THE BRITISH— STUDENTS

ALLOWED TO PRACTICE 27

Sick Soldiers Quartered in the House of Employment — Mr. Willing Donated
100 Cords of Wood — Other Donations Sent— New Board Appointed — British
Army took Possession of the Cit}- — Overseers Unable to Perform their Func-
tions— Sick Soldiers from General Howe's Army Fill an Entire Wing of the
Almshouse — Managers Ordered to Clear the House for the "King's troops" —
Managers Refuse to do so — All of the Inmates Turned into the Streets by the
British — Only 82 of the 200 Survive the Exposure — Terrible Trials of the Patri-
otic Colonists — British Evacuated — New Overseers Appointed — ^'2,000 Bor-
rowed— Sick, and Wounded Continental Soldiers Fill a Wing of the House of
Employment — Act to Authorize Loan of ^'5,000— Money could not be Procured
— Overseers Advanced I300 Each and Took the Risk— John Dickinson, Esq.,
Again Comes to the Relief— Difficulties in Money Affairs— Portions of the
Almshouse Rented to the United States Government for Accommodation of
Sick or Wounded Prisoners— Act to Vest the Overseers with the Powers of the
Contributors— Remonstrance — Board Pleads for Assistance— Charges that
Abuses Prevailed Investigated — Report — More Friction — Crooked Work at
"Potter's Field "—Census of House— How Inmates were Employed — Trouble
with Disreputable Characters— Rum Exchanged for Clothing, etc.— Changes
made in 1788 — Overseers Incorporated under the Title of " Guardians of the
Poor"— Old Board Abolished— Students Allowed to Practice in the House —
Financial Difficulties— Steward and Matron Reprimanded.

8 Contents.

CHAPTER III.

YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMICS— DISTINGUISHED PHYSICIANS ON DUTY . 38

Distinguished Physicians on Duty — Memorial Regarding "Potter's Field" —
Complaints Against Invalid Pensioners — Moditication of "Poor Laws"
Requested — Epidemic of Yellow Fever in 1793 — Noble Conduct of Stephen
Girard and Peter Helm — Thanks to Steward and Matron — Resignation of
Steward Cummings — Election of Aaron Musgrave — Resignation of Steward
Musgrave — Election of Jacob Phillips— Yellow Fever again in 1798 — Whooping
Cough — Clinical Lectures Introduced — Act to Change Mode of Selecting
Guardians — Another Fever Panic in 1803 — Steward Phillips Died at His Post —
Serious Quarrel Between Doctors — Dr. Philip Syng Physic Makes Report —
John Trout Elected Steward — Abuses in the Hospital.

CHAPTER IV.

TERRIBLE CONDITION OF INSANE PATIENTS — BAD CONDITION OF

SURGICAL WARDS 49

More Room Needed — Legislature Applied to for |5o,oco — Yellow Fever again
in 1805 — Thomas Barrj^'s Actions — Charges Against Matron — Influenza in 1807
— More Investigations — Interesting Reports — Case of Mary Lawyer — Goods
Manufactured — Stephen Girard a Customer — Premiums Awarded by the
"Philadelphia Premium Society" — First Move to Locate Almshouse on Farm
— Case of Robert Easton — Steward McFall Dismissed — Changes in Manufactur-
ing Department — Terrible Condition of Insane Patients— Resolution to Govern
Preaching — Bad Condition of vSurgical Wards.

CHAPTER V.

CONDITIONS DURING THE WAR OF 181 2-15— REPORT OF DR. RUSH ON

FEVER 59

Condition of Insane Patients in 181 2 — Population Increased by Outbreak of
War — Steward Mason Resigns — J. A. Inslee Elected — Report on Application
of the Evangelical Society — Prayer Adopted for the Childrens' School— News-
paper Comments — Report of Dr. Rush on the Fever Prevailing in the Alms-
house— Thanks to the Steward— Fever Again in 1820 — Medical Students Sup-
pressed Facts — Amusing Report on the Liquor Question — Another Change in
Management — Anxiety About the Binding of Children — Case of David Jacobs —
Association for the Care of Colored Children Founded by Quaker Ladies — Pur-
chase of Building for Childrens' Asylum— Complaints About Manner of Burying
the Dead — Investigation and Report — Additions Made to the Buildings — Con-
ference Regarding the Imprisonment of Boys and Girls — Report on Abuses of
Out-door Relief.

CHAPTER VI.

SMALL POX HOSPITAL AT BUSH HILL— ACT TO REMOVE ALMSHOUSE 71

Action to Relieve Elizabeth Helm — Mr. Truman's Resolution to Remove Alms-
house to a Farm — Fugitive vSlave Case — Small Pox Hospital at Bush Hill —
Act to Remove Almshouse— Guardians of the Poor and Commissioners to Erect
Buildings Provided for — List of Those Elected — Committee to Select Site —
Bids Advertised for — List of Bids Offered — Ground Purchased — Deed of
Property.

Contents. 9

CHAPTER VII.

PLANS FOR BUILDING NEW ALMSHOUSE— HOUSE OF REFUGE OPENED 84

Joint Committee on Plans Appointed — Report — Plans Advertised for — William
Strickland's Plans Adopted — Wharf Provided for — Proposals for I'ive Per Cent.
Loan — House of Refuge Opened — Committee on Buildings INIake Report —
Physicians Present Their Views.

CHAPTER VIII.
REPORT ON LOCATION OF NEW HOSPITAL 91

Report of Committee on Location of Hospital.

CHAPTER IX.

CORNER STONE OF NEW ALMSHOUSE LAID 103

Incompetency of Steward Shovi'n by Report — Act to Restrict Out-door Relief —
Bill to Repeal It Introduced — Memorial Sent by the Guardians — Mr. Strickland
Engaged as Supervising Architect — Plans Approved— Contracts Awarded—
Change in Plans — Corner-stone Laid — Work Stopped Owing to Friction
Between the Two Boards— Claims Made — More Contracts Awarded.

CHAPTER X.

EPIDEMIC OF CHOLERA, 1832— SERVICES OF SISTERS OF CHARITY . 115

Information Requested by Councils — Reply — Plans Again Agreed Upon —
Advertisements — More Contracts — Materials Purchased Without Contracts —
Guardians Want Work Hurried — Guardians Want Information from the Com-
missioners— Epidemic of Cholera in 1S32 — Well Inmates Sent to Unfinished
Buildings in " Blockley " — Commodore Barron Requested by the Guardians to
Allow Paupers to be Put in the Naval Asylum — Commissioners Instructed to
Build Sheds for the Sick — Two Physicians Emplo3-ed for the " House over
Schuylkill " — Application Made for the Services of the "Sisters of Charity"^
Terrible Conditions Existing in Almshouse — Much Admiration Shown for the
Conduct of the "Sisters" — Thanks to Bishop Kendrick and the Revs. Messrs.
Kiely, Hughes and Donohue — Building Rented on Broad Street — Hospital
Opened — Paupers Returned — Officials Paid for Services " Over the River" —
Committee Appointed to Make Arrangements for Moving and to Sell the Spruce
Street Property— Board Notified that the Sisters' Work was Done — Resolutions
of Thanks Adopted and Printed — Commissioners' Answers to Queries not Sat-
isfactory— Strong Resolutions Adopted.

CHAPTER XI.

FIRST REGULAR MEETING HELD IN NEW ALMSHOUSE 127

More Friction — Guardians Notified the Commissioners that Paupers would be
Removed Between the ist and loth of April, 1834 — Committee to Arrange for
Omnibus Line Between the Exchange and the New Almshouse — Tolls Over
the Market Street Bridge — April Passed, Building not Ready — Treasurer's
Report on Loans Negotiated — More Strong Resolutions — Dr. Harlan Advocates
a Medico-Botanical Garden — Preparations Made for Removal — President Gives
Notice of the Occupancy of the New Almshouse and Removal of the Office —
First Regular Meeting of the Board in the New Buildings — Census of the House
at Time of Removal — Esther Water's Legacy- to the Pour — Colored People who
Left their Homes on Account of Riot Permitted to Occupy Spruce Street
House — Complaints Against Dr. Calhoun — Roads from the Wharf to the House

10 Contents.

and from the House to Darby Road Provided for — Notice Given of the Sale of
the Spruce Street Property — Terms of Sale Reported — Price of Ground Limited
to $125,000 — Richard Smethurst's Bid — Failed to Pay — Again Offered but Not
Sold^Sold at Last — Commissioners Surrender House of Employment and
Women's Almshouse — Notice Regarding Out-door Relief — Auctioneer Wolbert
Paid — Childrens' Asylum on Fifth Street Sold — Description of New Almshouse
— Ferry Established — River Banks Constructed — Graveyard — Stone Barn and
Farm House Built — School-Room Furnished for Cliildren — First Steward of
Blockley — Cost to Date.

CHAPTER XII.

HOW BLOCKLEY GOT ITS NAME 139

How Blockley Got Its Name — Efforts to Utilize the Labor of Inmates — Report
on Dependent Foreigners — List of Guardians — Pleasant Ending of the Work of
the Commissioners — How Other Almshouses in the County were Authorized —
Auditing Committee's Report of the Cost — Head Money — Case of John Enhart
and Eliza Worl — Panic of 1837 — Commissioners of Moyamensing Desire to
have the Benefits of Blockley — Cost of Maintaining the Steward's Table —
Changes Made — Report on Distribution of Meat — Tie Vote on the Election of
vSteward.

CHAPTER XIII.

6ECRETARY AND TREASURER DEFAULTERS— REPORT ON CAUSE OF

PAUPERISM ■ 150

Another Change in Management — Charges Against the" Secretary of the Board
— Solicitor Requested to Enter Suit — Treasurer also a Defaulter — Report on
the Cause of Pauperism — Mismanagement Shown — Moyamensing Admitted —
Lack of Management in the Medical Department— Resident Physicians Leave
Without Giving Notice — Revolting Conditions Shown by Report of Committee
— Change in Management — Chief Resident Physician Elected.

CHAPTER XIV.

PROTEST REGARDING GRAVEYARDS— POOR HEATING AND VENTILATION IGO

Protest Regarding Graveyard — Nurse Welsh and Guardian Abbott — Vote of
Censure — Mr. Abbott Again — Newspaper Comment — Poor Heating and Ven-
tilation—Dr. Benedict Reports on the Temperature of the Insane Department
— Contract made for Apparatus to Remedy it — Trouble with Mr. Stewart, a
Member of the Board — Reply to the Grand Jury.

CHAPTER XV.

FIRST FEMALE PHYSICIAN EMPLOYED— CHOLERA AGAIN IN 1849 • • 176

Cholera Again in 1849 — Precautionary Measures Taken — Hospital Opened —
Alarming Death Rate in Almshouse — Committee's Report — Resignation of Dr.
Benedict — Election of Dr. Haines — First Female Physician Employed — Heat-
ing Apparatus not Satisfactory — Board Refuses to Pay Bill — Suit Entered —
Settled by Compromise — Resolution of Board — Building Purchased for Office
on North Seventh Street — Charges Against Certain Members of the Board
Investigated — Two Reports Made — Bad State of Affairs Shown by Subsequent
Report — Mr. Abbott Mixed Up in the Disreputable Business — Resolution to
Expel Two Members Laid on the Table.

Contents. 11

CHAPTER XVI.

CONSOLIDATION ACT PAvSSED— P. & W. C. RAILROAD TRACKS LAID . 184
Scandal Revived — Tracks Laid for P. & W. C. Railroad Across Almshouse
Ground — Damages Paid — Office of Childrens' Visitor 'Created — Consolidation
Act Passed — Complete Change in Management — Members of the Board Elected
by the People — List of those Elected — Death of Dr. vSteward, Election of Dr.
Campbell — Charges Against the President — Investigation and Report — Re-
organization— Money Applied for— Charges Against New President — Cholera
Again in 1854 — More Scandal, More Investigation, More Reports — One Hun-
dred and Fifty Paupers Sent from New York — Mr. Cross Dismissed from the
Board— Profligate Habits of Some of the Members.

CHAPTER XVII.

GUARDIANS OF THE POOR KNOWN AS BOARD OF BUZZARDS .... 192
Re-organization — Dr. R. K. Smith Elected — Dr. Campbell Threatens to Enter
Suit Against Certain Members of Board — Bad Feeling Between Councils and
Guardians — Appropriations Refused — All Kinds of Charges Made— Committee
Makes Spicy Report— Mayor Conrad Refers to Board in Strong Language—
Out-door Relief Suspended, Excepting in Cases of Sickness — Board Re-organ-
ized— Dr. Campbell Re-instated — Board Soon Known as the " Board of Buz-
zards " — By Request of Mayor Vaux, Dr. Campbell Makes Report of Condiaons.

CHAPTER XVIII.

MEMBERS OF BOARD CHARGED WITH SELLING DEAD BODIES. ... 203
Communication Sent to Councils — Members of the Board Charged with Selling
. the Bodies of Dead Paupers — Trouble Accumulates — More Correspondence.

CHAPTER XIX.

DR. JAMES McCLINTOCK ELECTED— VISITING PHYSICIANS RESIGN—
RESIDENT PHYSICIANS LEAVE— VISITS OF STUDENTS STOPPED—

GAS INTRODUCED 212

Dr. Campbell Resigns— Dr. James McClintock Elected— Visiting Physicians
Resign — Resident Physicians Leave the Inslitution — Change of Management
of the Medical Department— Visits of Students Stopped— Panic of 1857-58—
Charges Against One of the Visitors — Gas Introduced — New Board — Dr. Smith
Re-instated— Letter from Dr. McClintocs— More Charges of Selling Dead
Bodies— Dr. Smith Mixed Up in Scandals— More Appeals for Money— Rumors
of "Crooked Work " — Resolutions Adopted — Mr. Karnes' Strong Resolution —
Mr. Hoopes gives Vent to his Indignation — Dr. Smith Assails Mr. Brown —
Fire in 1858 — Singular Preamble— .Another Resolution from Mr. Hoopes.

CHAPTER XX.

THEFT OF SIX HUNRDED AND NINETY BARRELS OF FLOUR CHARGED

—CHARGES OF CORRUPTION IN THE AIR 223

Dr. Smith Again— Mr. Armstrong Charges the Theft of 690 Barrels of Flour-
Committee of Investigation Makes Majority Report— Expulsion of Mr. Arm-
strong by Vote of the Board— Mr. Armstrong Attends Next Meeting— Vote of
Expulsion Reconsidered— Minority Report Offered— Councils Appoint Com-
mittee to Investigate Flour Transactions — Mr. Karnes Offers Resolution— Mr.
Armstrong Charges Fraud Connected with :\Ieat— Mr. Armstrong Resigns from
the Board— Charges of Corruption from All Quarters — Whitewashing Report —
Report of Councils Investigating Committee— No Whitewash in That— Mr.
Kames' Testimony — Queer Explanations.

12 Contents.

CHAPTER XXI.

RE-ORGANIZATION— LIBERAL OFFER OF HOMEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS . 233

Act Changing Mode of Selecting Guardians — Members Selected Under the New
Law — Newspaper Comments on the New Board — Last Meeting of the Old
Board, as Reported in Minute Book — Same as Reported in Newspaper — New
Board Organized — Reorganization of Medical Department— Liberal Offer of
Homeopathic Physicians— Dr. Smith Legislated Out of Office— He Declines to
Leave, but He Alters His Mind — Omission of a Bid for Supplying Meat Caused
Considerable Discussion Action of Board Condemned by Newspapers —
Trouble About Whiskey.

CHAPTER XXII.

PATHOLOGICAL MUSEUM— STUDENTS ADMITTED FREE— BAKE HOUSE

ERECTED ... 247

Vagrants Discussed — Bakehouse Erected — Editorial Entitled " God Help the
Poor" — House of Correction Considered — Cells in Vaults of Insane Depart-
ment— More AVjuses in Out-door Relief — More Reports of Robbing the Grave-
yard— Editorial Entitled "Modern r>ody Snatching " — Collecting Wagered
Money — Efforts to Enlarge Insane Department — Pathological Museum — Stu-
dents Admitted Free.

CHAPTER XXIII.

HOUSE AGENT DISMISSED— WORKSHOPS AND RECEIVING VAULTS

ERECTED 25(>

New Workshop Erected — Comment — A Needed Regulation — Small Pox Hos-
pital Closed — Spicy Correspondence — Report of Visitors — Distress Caused by
Outbreak of the Rebellion — Efforts to Establi.sh Foundling Asylum — House
Agent Dismissed — Act Authorizing Sale of Almshouse Property — Patriotic
Resolutions Employment of Homeopathic Physicians Advocated — Scandal
Connected with Graveyard Robberies Revived — Receiving Vault Erected — New
Clinic Hall Dedicated.

CHAPTER XXIV.
INSANE CONVICTS RETURNED FROM STATE HOSPITALS— STEAM HEAT-
ING INTRODUCED 265

Insane Convicts Returned from State Hospitals -Resident Physicians Punish
Patients by Use of Shower Baths — Strong Resolutions Adopted — Stockings Made
and Sent to Soldiers— Decrease of Population — Appropriation Reduced — Copper
Removed from Roofs — Suicide of Insane Patient — Foundling Asylum Again
Considered — Rules Governing the Receiving Vault Not Obeyed — Editorial
Entitled " Buzzardism Revived " — Erection of Municipal Hospital — Communi-
cation from the Junction R. R. Co. — Feeble-Miuded Children Sent to Training
School at Media — Steam Heating Started— Doctors Drafted for the Army-
President Maris Resign.s — Mr. M. H. Dickinson Elected— Four Steam Boilers
Contracted For— Mr. Dickinson Resigns— Mr. George Erety Elected.

CHAPTER XXV.

TERRIBLE ACCIDENT IN INSANE DEPARTMENT— NEW MUNICIPAL

HOSPITAL OPENED 274

Terrible .\ccident in Insane Department — Number Killed — Verdict of Coroner's
Jury — Report Regarding Mortality in Children's Asylum— Harmony Restored —
Resignation of Dr. Gro.ss — Effect of War on Population of the House- New
Municipal Hos])ital Opened— Report to Governor of the State— General Wag-
ner Offers Resolution Regarding the Purchase of Petty's Island— President
P>ety Dies — Dr. Agnew Resigns.

Contents. 13

CHAPTER XXVI.

FIRST GROUND SOLD TO U. OF P.— WINGS TO INvSANE DEPARTMENT

BUILDINGS 283

First Ground Sold to the University of Pennsylvania — Additional Wings to
Insane Department Erected — Another Change in Mode of Selecting Guard-
ians— More Land Transferred to University — Land Transferred for Police Sta-
tion House — Foundling Asylum Again Considered — Directors of Pennsylvania
Institution for Deaf and Dumb Apply for Ground— Ordinance to Remove the
Almshouse.

CHAPTER XXVII.

COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE CHARGES OF MALADMINISTRATION AND

CORRUPT PRACTICES 295

Resignation of Steward Henszey — Major Ellis P. Phipps Elected— Land Trans-
ferred for Use of Highway Department— House of Correction Opened — Increase
of Expenditures— Marsh Land Sold to Mr. W. H. Wilson— Dissatisfaction with
Management Manifested— Petitions vSeut to Councils — Committee Appointed
by Common Council to Investigate Charges of Maladministration and Corrupt
Practices — Another Piece of Ground Transferred to the University— Ground
Sold to H. K. Fox and W. C. Allison— Information Regarding Free Beds Re-
quested of the University by Councils — Reply of Provost Pepper.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

REPORT OF INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE 303

Scathing Report of Council's Investigating Committee — Certain Members of
the Board of Guardians Requested to Resign.

CHAPTER XXIX.

TRAINING SCHOOL FOR NURSES ESTABLISHED— TERRIBLE FIRE IN

INSANE DEPARTMENT— SUPERINTENDENT PHIPPS ARRESTED . . 313

' Superintendent Phipps Resigns — He is Arrested — Flees to Canada — Appre-

hended and Brought Back— Tried, Convicted and Sent to Prison — Other Offi-
cials Convicted — Re-organization of the Board — President Huggard and Super-
tendent Scarborough Make Reports — Two Important Laws Passed — Children
More than Two Years Old not to be Kept in Almshouses More than Sixty
Days — Bodies of Persons Dying in the Almshouses to be Surrendered to Ana-
tomical Board Under Certain Conditions — Mr. George H. Smith Elected
Superintendent — Ground Set Aside for Public Park — Training School for
Nurses Established — Terrible Fire in Insane Department — Number of Patients
Burned to Death — Report of Investigating Committee.

CHAPTER XXX.

BULLITT BILL GOES INTO EFFECT— CHANGE IN MANAGEMENT. . . . 327

Land Advertised for — Bids Received — Councils' Committee Advise Re-building
— Out-door Physicians — Position of Physician-in-Chief Created — Mr. George
Roney Elected Superintendent — Miss Mary Shields' Legacy — How Her Bequests
are Administered — Bullitt Bill Goes into Effect — Changes Made in Manage-
ment— Last Official Act of the Guardians of the Poor— Vote of Thanks to
President of Common Council — First Directors of the " Department of Charities
and Correction " — Re-organization — Chief Resident Physician Elected.

14 Contents.

CHAPTER XXXI.
ORDINANCE TO REMOVE ALMSHOUSE — MAYOR FITLER OPPOSES

REMOVAL 334

More Ground to the University — Ordinance to Remove Almshouse to House of
Correction Grounds — Brick Pavilion Erected — Sewer Extended — More Ground
Sold — President Resigns — Mr. Robert Laughlin Appointed President — Mr. G.
C. Morris Appointed on the Board — Mr. Morris Resigns — Mr. John Roberts
Appointed — Mayor Fitler Opposes Removal of Almshouses — Improvements —
Dr. Daniel E. Hughes Elected Chief Resident Physician— More Land Sold —
Mone}' Appropriated for Additional Buildings for Insane Department — Super-
intendent Roney Resigns— Charles Lawrence Elected — New Board Appointed
— President Freeman Resigns — Major William H. Lambert Appointed Presi-
dent— Dr. James W. Walk Appointed on the Board— Ground Transferred to the
Wistar Insiitute — Money Appropriated to Erect a House for Nurses and an
Isolating Building— Clinic Hall Re-modeled — Opening Exercises.

CHAPTER XXXII.

DESCRIPTION OF NURSES' HOUSE AND ISOLATING BUILDING-FIRE

IN LAUNDRY AND STOREHOUSE ■ 345

More Land for the University — Description of Nurses' House — Director Hug-
gard Dies — Mr. John Shallcross Appointed on the Board — More Ground for the
University— Description of Isolating Building — Addition to Maternity Wards
— Ground Transferred to the Trustees of Philadelphia Museum — Fire in Laun-
dry and Storehouse — President Lambert's Report — Superintendent Lawrence's
Report— Buildings Re-constructed — Reports of Chief Resident Physician and
President Lambert — More Ground for Trustees of Museum.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

IMPROVEMENT IN TREATING PATIENTS 355

Improvements in Treatment of Insane Patients— Superintendent Calls Attention
to Crowded Condition and Suggests Remedy— President's Appeal for Relief—
A New Board of Directors Appointed — Major Lambert Continued as President
— President Makes Another Appeal — More Ground to Trustees of Museum —
President IVIakes Final Appeal— Director Mann Dies— Dr. Joseph S. NefF
Appointed on the Board — Director Gross Resigns— President Lambert Resigns
Mr. William D. Gardner Appointed President pro tern. — Mr. Albert H. Dingee
and Dr. C. S. Middleton Appointed on the Board.

CHAPTER XXXIV.
SUPERINTENDENT LAWRENCE RESIGNS — HIS STATEMENT TO THE

BOARD 364

Superintendent Lawrence Resigns — Statement Made to the Board Giving an
Account of Improvements Made and Services Rendered — How Inmates' E;ffects
were Cared for — Money Collected and Paid into the Treasury — Letter from Dr.
Curtin — Conclusion.

APPENDIX.

LIST OF FORMER VISITING AND RESIDENT PHYSICIANS OF THE PHIL-
ADELPHIA HOSPITAL 387

CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE MEDICAL BOARDS OF THE

PHILADELPHIA HOSPITAL, FROM 1768 TO 1900 393

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Main Entrance to Bi^ockley 1S99 {Frontispiece). pa,;b

Friends' Almshouse, 1729 IB

Spruce Street Almshouse, 1767- 1834 3-I-

"Blockley Almshouse," taken in 1840 52

Vintage Avenue, looking Northeast, 1899 70

Vintage Avenue, looking Southwest, 1899 88

Hospital Gate, 1S99 106

Garden in Front of Institution, 1899 124

Courtyard of Men's Outward, 1S99 142

Garden in Courtyard, 1899 KiO

Bird's Eye View of Courtyards, 1899 178

Street in Front of Insane Wards, 1859 196

Male Insane Exercising Yard, 1899 214

Female Insane Exercising Yard, 1899 234

House for Nurses, 1899 252

Isolating Building, 1899 270

Interior of Surgical Ward, 1899 • 2S8

Interior of Drug Store, 1899 306

Interior of Storehouse, 1899 324

Main Laundry, 1899 344

Stable, 1899 362

(/)

C
in
m

HISTORY

OF THE

PHILADELPHIA ALMSHOUSES

AND

HOSPITALS.

CHAPTER I.

DESCRIPTION OF FIRST A L^ISHOUSE— SPRUCE STREET
ALMSHOUSE OPENED.

WHEN William Penn sailed for America, on the ship
Welcome, of three hundred tons burden, knowing that
his voyage and residence there would keep him sepa-
rated from his family during a considerable time, he
left a letter addressed to his wife and children, in which he said :
'• Pity the distressed and hold out a hand of help to them ; it may
be your case ; and as you mete to others God will mete to 3'ou
again."

The Founder of Pennsj^lvania was honorably descended, his
paternal ancestors, for several generations, having been persons of
high respectability and considerable note in the world.

His grandfather, Giles Penn, was a captain in the English
Navy. His father, Sir William Penn, at an early age, became a
distinguished naval officer, and passed through the successive
grades of promotion, so that at the early age of thirt3^-one he was
created Vice- Admiral.

The father was much annoyed by the persistency with which
his son William clung to the teachings of Thomas Eoe, a preacher
of the Society of Friends. He remonstrated with him, beat him,
and turned him out of his home, but all in vain. The younger
William was expelled from college and suffered confinement in
prisons on several occasions, and for long terms, for preaching
2 17

18 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and , Hospitals.

lieres}', as it was termed ; but lie adhered to what he considered
w^as the true faith, and no sect had a better advocate than he
proved to be.

The " Friends " who came with him to this country, which
was to be " the haven of rest for the oppressed of all nations,"
were, no doubt, men of sterling qualities ; they believed in the
sentiment expressed in the letter referred to, and it is not surpris-
ing to see that the first almshouse established in the Colonies was
that of the Friends, located on » the grounds belonging to John
Martin, between Third and Fourth Streets, on the south side of
Walnut Street, in the city of Philadelphia.

Even in the selection of the name for their new home,
Philadelphia, City of Brotherly Love, the spirit of Christian
charity is manifested.

In earl}^ writings it appears that " no one need ever starve or
be in want in this fruitful country," and as the founders were
industrious, prudent people, the assertion was probably true at
that period.

In time, idle persons came drifting in among them and sick-
ness or misfortune overtook some of those early settlers, so that
they required assistance from the more fortunate. This was
rendered privatel}^, as friend to neighbor, until it became so
burdensome, to a few, that it was deemed essential to have some
public wa}' of relieving the necessities of the poor, and to levy an
equal tax on all to provide the means for that purpose.

As early as the year 1700, an " Act for the better provision of
the Poor " was passed, but the Queen repealed it.

In 1705 the Assembly passed a law that provided that Justices
of the Peace should annually elect two " Overseers of the Poor "
for each Township, and authorized them to levy a tax of one penny
per pound on real and personal property of citizens, and four shil-
lings per head on all citizens not otha-wise rated, "to be employed
for the relief of poor, indigent and impotent persons, inhabiting
within the said Township." The money so collected appears to
have been distributed to the families in need, as the names of some
who received it were entered in the " Poor Book."

History of Pliiladelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 19

Tramps were not encouraged, and idleness was not considered
as good form in those days. Councils passed a resolution, in 1712,
which declared : '' The poor of this city, Da3^1y Increasing, it is ye
opinion of this Council that a workhouse be immediately hired to
Imploy poor P'sons and sufficients P'sons appointed to keep them
at work."

The Overseers were directed to attend to this matter, and the}'
were subsequently authorized to " find a convenient building for a
workhouse."

The Friends Almshouse was established in 1713. John
Martin, a tailor, who died in 1702, devised the property on Walnut
Street to Thomas Chalkley, Ralph Jackson and John Michener.
The will did not provide that the}^ should hold it for any trust, or
object ; yet, " it was understood from conversations with Martin, in
his life time, that he intended that his estate should be disposed of
for the use of the poor Friends, according to the directions of
the Society."

Small houses were erected for the purpose, but the front
building was not built until 1729.

These buildings were described as being ver}' quaint in appear-
ance and character. The main one on Walnut Street occupied the
whole front of the lot, and '' the central portion of it rose above a
siniph^ ornamented doorway to an open-arched entrance which led
from the street by steps to the garden and buildings in the rear,"
There were six small houses in a row with entrances from the
yard.

This almshouse was strictly sectarian, and none but members
of the Society, having charge of it, could be received within its
walls. It had but few inmates, as the Quakers were generall}'
thrifty and economical and did not have to be supported in an
almshouse. A few old women were there, and it was frequently
called the " Quaker Nunner}-." As it was not a place for the
support of the poor of all denominations, it could not be considered
a public almshouse, and its usefulness w^as ver}- much restricted.

An order was issued, in 171 7, that compelled all persons who
received relief from the Overseers of the Poor, to wear upon the

20 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

right sleeve of the otiter garment a Roman P, together with the
initials of the county, city or place of which the pauper was an
inhabitant. The letters were to be of red or blue cloth, as the
Overseers should designate. Every one w^ho refused to wear such
letters was liable to have their relief suspended or withdrawn, and
also to be whipped and kept at hard labor for twenty-one days.

In that year an Act was passed to authorize the erection of
Workhouses in Philadelphia, Bristol and Chester. It wa§ directed
that a Workhouse should be built in Philadelphia within three
years, but that was not complied with. The out-door system of
relief was still maintained.

The dependent class increased in number to such an extent
that the Overseers of the Poor presented a memorial to the Assem-
bly, in 1729, which explained the difficulty of providing for the great
number of poor persons from foreign ports and neighboring prov-
inces, as well as for the insolvent debtors, their wives and children.
The city recommended the application for relief, and the Legisla-
ture resolved to "loan the Mayor and Commonality ^looo, to be
applied to the purchase of ground and erection of an Almshouse
for the use of the poor of the city."

The money was received in 1730, and the Mayor, Alderman
Plumstead and James Steel were appointed a committee to select a
place, prepare plans and make estimates.

A square of ground, a green meadow, bounded by Third and
Fourth, Spruce and Pine Streets, was bought from xAldren Allen for
£200^ and a brick building was erected in 1731 or 1732. The main
front faced Third Street ; there was a piazza all around the building,
and the house somewhat resembled the Friends' Almshouse. The
large gate was on Spruce Street, and there was an entrance, b}^ a
stile, from Third Street.

A hospital for the accommodation of the sick and insane was
established in connection with the Almshouse, and that was the
inauguration of a system which has been continued up to the
present time.

The Philadelphia Hospital is, no doubt, the oldest hospital in
continuotis service in this country.

Histor}' of Pliilaclel]ihia Almshouses and Hospitals. 21

The Assembl}^ passed a statute on March 29, 1735, which
regulated the niauuer in whicli persons who came into the cit}' of
Philadelphia, or any township or borough, except those who came
from Europe, might obtain a legal settlement. This was a very
serious question, and the Act was to prevent the dependent class
from drifting from place to place, and to provide for their support
where they belonged. Housekeepers and others who received per-
sons not having legal settlements into their dwellings, were bound
to give notice to the " Overseers of the Poor " under penalt}^ The
Act stated : '' The Almshouse built for the city of Philadelphia
may, if well regulated, be of service and help to ease the inhabit-
ants of the taxes 3^early assessed on them for the maintenance of
the poor."

Authority was given to the Mayor, Recorder and Aldermen to
appoint a Superintendent of the Almshouse. The preamble
stated : " Complaints have been made against Overseers of the
Poor who have supplied the poor with necessities out of their own
stores and shops at exorbitant prices, and also against Overseers
who have paid unreasonable accounts to their friends and depend-
ents for services done the poor."

It appears that there were people in those early da3'S, like
some of later date, who would stoop to anything to gain profit for
themselves. Removing the appointment of the Superintendent
from the Overseers, was intended as a check upon the Board.

The number of applicants for admission became so large that
in a few years the Almshouse was too small to receive them all,
and in 1764 the Overseers again called upon the Assembly to
assist them. In their petition the}' called attention to the crowded
condition, and stated "that into rooms but ten or eleven feet square
we have been obliged to put four or six men. The church was
turned into a lodging room with fifteen beds."

No action appears to have been taken at the time. The Over-
seers renewed their application to the Assembly in 1766, and again
called attention to their crowded condition.

The number of paupers requiring care and assistance at that
time was two hundred and twenty. In addition to the people in

9 'J

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

the House there were one hundred and fifty out-pensioners. The
cost for the support of the poor in 1765 had been three thousand
and two hundred dollars.

The attention of persons of means had been attracted to the
urgent duty of relieving the necessities of the poor, and it was pro-
posed that if the Assembly would charter a Corporation with power
to establish and maintain an Almshouse and House of Employ-
ment, such a company should be formed.

An Act was passed on February 8, 1766, entitled, "An Act
for the better employment, relief and support of the poor wdthin
the city of Philadelphia, District of Southw^ark, the Townships of
Moyamensing and Pass\aink and the Northern Liberties.'' It
provided that every person who contributed ten pounds towards
the purposes of the Almshouse became a member of the Corpora-
tion with power to elect twelve Managers, a Treasurer, etc. They
were incorporated as " Contributors to the Relief and Employment
of the Poor within the City of Philadelphia."

They were authorized to borrow on mortgage of the Alms-
house property on Third Street ^2000, and to pay that over to the
Managers of the Almshouse Corporation for the purchase of
ground, the erection of buildings, etc., as soon as they raised a
stock of ^1,500. They were to erect a commodious building, one
part of which was to be used for the reception and maintenance of
persons who were poor and helpless, and the other as a House of
Emplo3mient, or Workhouse, for the lodging and employment of
poor persons who were able to work.

The Contributors held their first meeting in the Courthouse,
on the corner of Second and Market Streets, on the twelfth day of
May, 1766.

In addition to the regular officers, a board of Managers was
elected. The gentlemen selected were Joseph Fox, Philip Lyng,
Abel James, William Masters, Luke Morris, Joseph Redman, John
Palmer, Hugh Roberts, Jacob Lewis, Enoch Story, Samuel Rhodes
and Joseph Wharton. The}^ were all well known, respectable and
influential citizens.

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 23

After a number of conferences, it was finally concluded to buy
the lot of ground bounded by Spruce, Pine, Tenth and Eleventh
Streets, belonging to the Widow Callender, at the price of /^8oo.
Governor John Penn assisted in securing the site.

A subscription of ^1,500 having been raised, a mortgage on
the building and ground for the sum of /, 2,000 was executed. The
Managers adopted, as the motto for the seal of the Corporation,
" Charity, Justice and Iudustr3^"

In the meantime, Overseers of the Poor were elected in the
city, districts and townships, and they took charge of the adminis-
tration of outdoor relief and the general expenditure of public
charities. The Overseers were Joseph Potts, John Elton, Samuel
Davis, Joseph Moulder, Joseph Watkins, David Evans, James
Irvine, Nicholas Garrison, Benjamin Paschal, Bryan Wilkinson,
Christopher Ludovick and James Whitehall. The tax-levy for
their purposes was threepence in the pound. In addition to the
amount raised by this assessment, the Board had the income of
ground rents amounting to ^'45 16s. Sd. per annum and frequent
donations from wealthy persons.

The plans for the new institution were agreed upon and the
erection of the buildings immediately followed. In Scharff and
Westcott's " History of Philadelphia," they were described as
follows: "The buildings were opened in October, 1767. The Alms-
house was laid out in the form of an L, one hundred and eighty
feet by forty, two stories in height, joined by a turret thirt}- feet
square and four stories high. The House of Employment was on
the west side of the lot, running south from Spruce Street, fronting
Eleventh Street, also in shape of an L, so that the entire range of
buildings inclosed on three sides a quadrangular space. A large
central building was erected on Spruce Street, which stood between
the L's.

" The first story of the Almshouse and House of Emplo}'-
ment on the interior was a cloister of open arches. ^ The buildings
on Tenth and Eleventh Streets occupied two stories and a garret.
The main central building when finished was three stories in
height, with a hip roof surmounted b}^ a small cupola.

24 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

" A habit soon grew up among the people of calling this estab-
lishment the ' Bettering House,' a title which in time became some-
what an epithet of contempt. Two hundred and eighty-four per-
sons were admitted into the Almshouse in October, 1767, and in
three months the number had increased to three hundred and
sixty-eight. The inmates of the House of Employment were soon
put to work, and in it were made various kinds of goods, principally
of wool, hemp and flax. When in years after cotton began to be
grown in the United States, the manufacture of that fibre became
an important industry in the establishment."

The Overseers of the Poor and the Managers of the House of
Employment soon had their disagreements and difihculties. The
Managers had been in the habit of extending relief to needy persons
outside of the institution, but finding this imposed a heav}^ tax upon
their resources, had resolved to cut off the " pensioners," as the out-
side poor were termed. The Overseers denounced this action and
claimed that they were greatly annoyed b}^ applicants for relief
which they could not furnish. Much suffering was caused by the
action of the Managers of the House of Employment, and the
Overseers determined that they would not appoint au}^ more com-
mittees to visit the Home and confer with the Managers, as they
had previously done.

John Dickinson, Esq., a wealthy and influential young man,
married an estimable young lady in 1770, and he celebrated the
event by sending to the Overseers of the Poor ^200, to be distrib-
uted under their direction among deserving applicants for relief
He endeavored to share some of his happiness with those who were
not accustomed to much pleasure and joy. The Overseers passed
resolutions congratulating him upon his fortunate choice of a part-
ner, and wishing him prosperit}' and happiness. They also thanked
him for his generous gift.

Mr. Dickinson was a talented young lawyer of a generous
nature, with a mind of his own and with the courage of his con-
victions. He dared to oppose the Declaration of Independence ;
but, after the Continental Congress decided to adopt that wonderful
document, there were few abler or more devoted friends to support

History of f^hiladelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 25

the cause than John Dickinson of Pennsylvania. History associ-
ates his name with that of Franklin and says, " They had as nuich
to do as any other two men who can be named in uniting the colo-
nies and preparing them for resistance." He relieved the sorrows
of many households and set a worthy example for others to follow ;
he deemed the course he pursued to be wiser than spending thou-
sands on a wedding tour.

Iti September, 1770, the Overseers of the Poor were com-
pelled to take action in regard to the Nova Scotia exiles, known as
" Neutrals," who had. settled in Philadelphia, and who had become
a serious burden on the taxpayers. When the British captured
Nova Scotia, they deemed it a matter of State policy to transport
the French residents and distribute them among the Colonies. In
1756 a number of the families that had been driven from their homes
and ruined financially arrived in Philadelphia. Anthony Benezet
took a great interest in them ; they were provided with shelter in a
long range of one-story wooden houses on the north side of Pine
vStreet, between Fifth and Sixth Streets. They were indolent,
refused to mingle with the other colonists and had no ambition to
do anything to help themselves. They became burdensome ; so
the authorities, to compel them to do something, resolved to have
their children bound out to other people, giving as a reason that
their parents had lived long enough at the public expense. The
Overseers sent a remonstrance to the Assembly, representing that
the neutrals, through age, sickness and infirmities, were incapable
of providing for themselves, and had been ordered to remove from
the houses provided for them. They appealed to the Assembly to
take some action for their relief.

Thomas Fisher, one of the Overseers, in 1774 agreed to take
the Neutrals, or Arcadians, under his special charge and distribute
among them the appropriations made to supply their wants ; and
in that and the succeeding year the Assembly granted ^200 for the
purpose. It has been stated that from 1756 until the Revolution-
ary War began, these people were a continual burden to the com-
munit}' and a heavy tax upon its charity. Some authorities say
that they disappeared in a body at the sign of war, and settled

26 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

near New Orleans. George W. Cable, in his stor^^ of Bonaven-
ture, speaks of the Arcadians in that section, and probabl}^ they
were descendants of that race. The winter of 1775 was a very
severe one in Philadelphia. The Overseers were kept very busy,
and the Almshouse and House of Employment were crowded.
The Overseers appointed a committee of two to visit the institu-
tion every week and to confer with the Managers.

John Petty and William Carter died, -and in their wills it was
provided that certain sums should be used for the purchase and
distribution of bread among the poor. One portion of it was dis-
tributed in February, and the other in March, 1776. A bellman
and public crier were employed to notify those in want of it, as to
where and when it could be procured. Our forefathers did not
have as many newspapers as we have at the present time.

At that period the Overseers were Capt. Samuel Smith, Sam-
uel Murdoch, James Reynolds, Michael Schubert, William Garri-
gues, Lewis Karcher, William Wills, Leonard Kessler, Joseph
Mifflin and Samuel Garrigues. The peculiar manner in which the
Overseers were selected prevented even the best members from
serving more than one year. As the term was about to expire the
names of sixty citizens were sent to Court, and the judges selected
twelve Overseers from the list, to serve for the ensuing year. As
the Overseers would not send their own names, their services were
lost to the community.

The minutes of the Board of Managers for September 2, 1776,
says : " The number of troops that are passing through the city
and making use of the Court House renders it extremely inconve-
nient to meet there ; " and it was resolved that " the Board should
hold its sessions at the sign of the Golden Fleece." A number of
poor and disabled soldiers were admitted into the House of Employ-
ment, and the Overseers were active in relieving the wants of the
families of those who were fighting the battles of their country.

Those were trying times for the poor ; the Overseers found
great difficulty in collecting money and were not able to do much.
Every one was expected to help the country, and could not give
much to relieve the poor.

CHAPTER II.

PAUPERS TURNED INTO STREET BY THE BRITISH — STUDENTS

ALLOWED TO PRACTICE.

AT about this time, Col. Francis Guriie}^ was ordered b}" the
Committee of Safet}- to quarter a number of Continental
militia, who were very sick with dysentery, in the Alms-
house. The managers and physicians strongl}^ objected
to the order, as it was calculated to endanger the health of the
House. Notwithstanding the objection, Col. Gurne}- took pos-
session ; the poor inmates were transferred to the west building,
and the troops were put into the southeast wing of the House of
Employment.

No meetings were held between November 25, 1776, and Janu-
ary, 1777, owing to " the alarming situation of the times," as men-
tioned in the minutes of the Board. On the latter date, five mem-
bers— Messrs. George Meade, Benjamin Gibbs, David Schaffer,
Samuel Read and Mordecai Lewis — met to consider what could be
done to relieve some of the worst cases of suffering.

Mr. Thomas Willing placed one hundred cords of wood at the
disposal of the Overseers, and other donations were received from
various charitable individuals.

Soon after this a new and full Board was appointed b}' the
Court ; but the British arm}- under Gen. Howe took possession oi
Philadelphia, and the Overseers were unable to perform their func-
tions. In October the sick belonging to Gen. Howe's arnn- filled
the entire east wing.

The Board of ]\Ianagers was ordered to clear the House for the
King's troops ; the}^ refused to do so. The British ofiicials turned
the inmates, about two hundred in number — poor, miserable creat-
ures— out in the streets. To save them from perishing, the mana-
gers had them placed, some in the Freemason's Lodge, some in the
Friends' Meetinghouse and others in Carpenters' Hall, where they
were provided for until the British left the city, in June, 1778.

28 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

Only eighty-two of the two hundred survived the exposure and
were taken back to the Almshouse.

No one could realize the terrible trials through, which the patri-
otic colonists passed in those days "that tried men's souls." Want
and distress accompanied by acts of cruelty were familiar sights ;
but, believing in the righteousness of their cause, they never
faltered.

The Overseers of the Poor did not resume their sessions until
July 22, 1778. The minutes of the meeting of that date states:
"The Britisb army having at length evacuated this city after hav-
ing possession of it about nine months — during which time there
lias been no legal care taken of the poor — at a Court of Aldermen,
the following citizens were appointed Overseers for the ensuing
twelve months : William Pritchard, John Stille, Philip Moxen,
William Woodhouse, Robert Aitken, Jonathan Meredith, Andrew
Guyer, Nicholas Weaver, Jacob Kimsley, Peter Cooper, John Lin-
nington and Samuel Wetherill, Jr." These were prominent, able
and humane gentlemen.

A conference was held with the Magistrates and it was deter-
mined to borrow the sum of ^2000, to be repaid out of the proceeds
of the tax levy as soon as possible.

xA subscription was opened and the amount required was soon
obtained.-

The southeast wing of the House of Employment, which had
been used as an Almshouse, was at this time occupied by wounded
soldiers of the Continental army. The Overseers were not anxi-
ous to deprive them of such shelter, but they thought that as the
poor of the cit}^ were thus excluded from the building erected for
their use, rent should be paid, so that it could be added to the relief
fund of the Board.

The rent asked for was eventually paid by Isaac Melchor, the
Barrack Master.

The Assembly passed an act authorizing the Overseers to
borrow ^5000, to be appropriated to the relief of the poor, and pre-
paratory steps were taken for reorganizing the poor department.
But the Board found it impossible to borrow any money, in 1779,

History of Philadelphia Aliiisliouses and Hospitals. 20

in consequence of the depreciated state of the Continental cnrrenc}",
which produced universal distrust. The Overseers generously
resolved to advance the sum of $300 each, and take the risk of
being repaid when better days should come.

At the meeting of the Board held on the 23d of December,
1779, the following communication was read: "Gentlemen — I am
not, and have not been, for several years, an inhabitant of this
State ; yet, from a sincere affection for the people, I am persuaded
I shall heartily wish their happiness in every respect. These
sentiments have led me to think of the distress to which many
worthy families in this city, not properly the objects of the laws
of relief, may be reduced in the course of the winter that is setting
in early and probably will prove severe. I therefore beg leave to
put ^1000 in 3^our hands, to be distributed in such manner as your
prudence and humanity shall dictate.

" I flatter myself that you will pardon the liberty I take on
this occasion, as I presume the nature of your of&ce and a general
acquaintance will render a compliance with this request not very
troublesome, and I am convinced if it should be so, your benevo-
lence would receive pleasure by dispensing even the little assistance
this mite will afford to those to whom it ma}^ be necessary. If the
weather should moderate, so as to open the river, you shall be
freely welcome to order two hundred cords of wood to be cut on
my estate in Kent, and, perhaps, I can spare a larger quantity.
The land is close to navigable water, and wood has been brought
from the neighborhood to Philadelphia this Fall, allowing one-half
the profit to the owner, which shows the conveyance to be easy.
If it should not be convenient to accept the offer this season, you,
gentlemen, or your successors may have the wood against next
season. It appears to me that an undertaking of the kind may be
of considerable service to many of your valuable fellow-citi/ens,
though the grant, on ni}' part, is very small, as I intend to clear
the ground. I am, with great regard,

'•Your humble servant,

"John Dickinson."

30 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

The Board expressed its thanks to that worth}^ gentleman for
his timel}^ and much appreciated donation.

Mr. Dickinson abandoned the practice of his profession at the
commencement of the War, and devoted his time and talents to the
public service. No man of his time was more generous to the
worthy poor ; he was much beloved in Philadelphia. Manj^ per-
sons had been suddenly reduced to want by the progress of the
struggle for independence, and the depreciation of the currency.
It was to relieve those people that the donation mentioned in the
letter was intended. They would have suffered rather than to
have asked for relief from the legal authorities, and the Overseers
endeavored to reach them through the generosit}^ of Mr. Dickin-
son, who had been a benefactor on numerous occasions besides
those mentioned in the minutes of the Overseers.

The Board labored under many difficulties in the performance
of its duties. While the taxes and donations were, in most cases,
paid in depreciated currency, specie was demanded for almost ever}'-
thing needed. Every expedient was tried for raising money, but
winter arrived and the Board frequently found the treasury empty.
When there was anj^ money it soon went, as the number of urgent
needs called for its immediate use.

In 1 781, the Board consented to rent a portion of the eastern
wing of the House of Employment to the " General Government "
for the accommodation of the British prisoners who were sick or
wounded. This kept many of the poor citizens out of the House ;
yet, after the treat}^ of peace was proclaimed, 1784, and the soldiers
were removed, the managers were unable to grant all the applica-
tions for relief.

]\Iany of the contributors had become impoverished b}^ the
events of the Revolution, and the membership and the income of
the institution had been so*much reduced that, in 1781, the Legis-
lature passed an act which provided that if the corporation could
not be kept up, or should cease to act, the Overseers of the Poor
should be vested with all the powers of the corporation, and be
themselves a corporation under the title of the " Guardians of the
Poor of the City of Philadelphia."

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 31

On the 3d of March, 17S4, the Board of Managers sent a
^' remonstrance '' to the Legislature. The following extract will
convey a faint idea of the conditions in Philadelphia at that time :
" In the course of the winter, your petitioners have had many and
afflicting instances of the utmost human sufferings and accumu-
lated distress in and around the cit}-. They represent that from
the rigors of a very severe and tedious winter, the want of emplo}'-
ment, with the exorbitant prices of fuel and provisions, the poor
have greatly increased, and notwithstanding heavy taxes and liberal
donations have been collected and expended for their relief, many
remain in great distress. That b}^ the resort of people, both by
sea and land, to this metropolis, man}- become burdensome to the
inhabitants, through sickness and misfortunes. That in addition
to those, the cit}^ and environs are greatly oppressed by numbers
of beggars and vagrants, not only from various parts of this State,
but from many others of the United States, who, being found in
distress in the streets, and daily, of necessity, added to the poor,
under our immediate care, already too numerous, amounting to 117
out-pensioners and 230 poor in the Almshouse, about 60 of whom
liave no legal settlement or right of support in this corporation.
But what we would now particularly represent to your honorable
House is the distressed situation of several hundred persons, con-
sisting of disbanded soldiers, late of the Pennsylvania Line, their
wives and children, with other non-residents, who have this winter
taken shelter in the barracks, wdiere they have hitherto been
assisted, not only by the liberal donations raised in this citj'-, but
also frequently out of the funds under our direction. Notwith-
standing which, they are now, at this inclement season, in great
distress for almost every necessary of life."

Although the Board earnestly pleaded for the Assembl}' to
take some action for the relief of the sufferers, man}' of whom had
fought gallantly for our independence, no mention is made of any
attention having been paid to their petition, and, inasmuch as there
were subsequent appeals made, it is to be inferred that no measures
were taken to render assistance.

In the minutes of the Overseers can be found such records as :

32 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

" 5 shillings given to a wounded soldier," " a lialf-cord of wood sent
to the family of John Davis, the said family being in great dis-
tress," and others of the same character. This may help the
imagination to form some idea of the misery that prevailed among
certain classes in Philadelphia at that period.

In 1784, reports were circulated that " shocking abuses pre-
vailed in the Almshouse." The Overseers appointed a committee
to investigate the charges. It was ascertained that all kinds of
unwholesome food, including " maggotty butter," had been served
to the inmates ; that there was a lack of proper clothing, and that
women suffering from loathsome diseases were placed among the
other females, who, although paupers, were honest, decent and
cleanly. The person responsible for this shocking state of affairs
appears to have been Mrs. Cummin gs, the wife of the Steward,
who acted as Matron of the House.

The committee thoroughly reformed the course of manage-
ment, but the Steward's wife was not displaced. She was much
frightened by the exposure, and became a better official, serving
until she died at her post of duty during the yellow fever epidemic
in 1793.

The Overseers of the Poor and the Managers of the House of
Employment again ''locked horns" in December, 1784, as appears
in the minutes of the Overseers by the following report : " Accord-
ing to the rules of the preceding meeting, Mr. Connelly, Mr.
Sharswood, Mr. Mcllhenny, and Mr. Dorsey waited on the full
Board of Managers, and represented to them that this Board con-
sidered themselves insulted in a very particular manner, b}' the
Steward, of the House, in his telling two of the gentlemen of this
Board, (who visited them last week) that it was a pimping disposi-
tion to come regularly and inspect the internal management of the
House ; that the reason of two persons being appointed every
week from, this Board was not to interfere with such — their man-
agement— but in order to observe whether the poor persons sent in
by them were well and duly provided for ; that they considered the}?-
had an indisputable right, both in such cases, and as citizens, to
visit the House at any time ; that during the visits which were

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 33

weekly made to the House, they observed very great inattention in
the management, or stewardship of the House ; that those observa-
tions were not founded on slight or trivial information, but on such
as was at any time to be affirmed to. The whole of which repre-
sentations was treated very lightly, and in no wise to satisfaction."

The squabble between the two Boards continued for some time,
and in February, 1787, the Overseers sent a petition to the Legis-
lature, praying for a change in the law relating to the relief of the
poor of Philadelphia, and for the passage of an act to make a
revised S3^stem, and the consolidation of the Overseers and the
Managers of the House of Employment.

Experience had shown the wisdom of complying with this
request, as the conflict existing led to much confusion.

The Managers of the House charged the Overseers with being
remiss in the collection of taxes and paying the money over to the
treasury of the House. The Overseers retorted that " if they, the
Managers, could give a more satisfactory expenditure of such mon-
ies, it might be the means of their being more speedily collected."

This shows the feeling existing between the two Boards, but
the Assembly did not take any action upon the subject at that time.

Troubles seem to have started in other channels and the Board
discovered that there were thrifty financiers in those days who were
ready to earn an '' Jioncst dollar''' in any way that presented itself,
no matter how questionable it might appear to be. The " Potter's
Field," or " poor man's burying ground," was located on the
ground now known as Washington Square. The following report
appears in the minutes of May 17th, 1787 :

'' The committee appointed from the Board of Overseers of the
Poor to inquire into a complaint made to them of John Reynolds,
Jailor, who is represented to have extorted money, unwarrantabl}^,
for the permission of entering paupers and other poor persons in
the Potter's Field, report that their first inquiry was to find under
whose care this ground properly was, and finding that the Board of
Wardens, as guardians of the property belonging to the city was
legally invested with this trust, and, of course, the proper body to
make application to, 3'our committee wrote a letter to them, calling

34 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

their attention to the evil complained of, and desiring an oppor-
tunity to prove before them the accusations alleged against the
said John Reynolds. This the Board of Wardens granted, and
appointed a time for bringing forward the necessary proofs, which
your committee was able to do, and did, in a few instances, prove
to the satisfaction of said Board that the said John Reynolds had,
in some instances, taken a half-dollar and in others a quarter of a
dollar, for the privilege of opening the gate of said Potter's Field,
for ' fence money,' as he termed it."

The Wardens promised to stop the extortion, but the}^ could
not compel Reynolds to return the money he had obtained in that
honorable manner.

While the gains of that worthy gentleman might not be con-
sidered abundant, yet the disposition and ability shown might have
lifted him into a position of affluence, if the Overseers had not made
themselves so " officious.''^

Another committee report shows that the average population
of the House had increased to 328, and it often reached 400, dur-
ing the winter months. They were of both sexes and of all ages,
" from infancy to dotage." Those who were able to work were
generally employed in spinning, knitting, sewing, picking oakum,
and the manufacture of linen. About forty paupers were engaged
in spinning alone. In consequence of the institution being
encumbered with debt, the Managers tried to reduce the expenses
by compelling all who were- not sick to work at some productive
labor.

There were many disreputable characters in the city at this
time, and they carried on a lively trade after night, exchanging
rum for clothing and bedding belonging to the House. This could
be accomplished without difficulty, as the grounds surrounding the
institution were not inclosed.

It was a very serious matter, as it not onh" resulted in loss,
but led to drunken disorder and insubordination as well. The
Board endeavored to stop this as soon as it was discovered, but
much anxiety was caused before some of those engaged in the
nefarious business were detected and punished.

c
O
m

m
m

O
C

w
m

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 35

There were now more than 300 outside pensioners receiving
assistance from the Board.

A complete change in the administration of the public charit}^
was made in the early part of 1788, when the Assembly passed an
act which incorporated the Overseers of the Poor of the cit}' and
the adjacent districts under the title of '' Guardians of the Poor of
the City of Philadelphia." The House of Employment, Alms-
house, as well as the care of outside poor, were given into charge of
Managers appointed by this Board, and the old Board of Managers,
which had existed for manj^ years, was abolished.

The new Managers agreed to hold monthly meetings at the
House of Employment, and appointed a sub-committee of two,
called the '' weekl}' Board of IManagers," to visit the House twice
every week and supervise and direct all the arrangements. The
rules and regulations were amended and made clear in regard to
every official's duties.

A notable proposition was made at a meeting held in Novem-
ber, 17S8, to allow medical students to practice in the House. It
was strongly opposed, and the discussion was spirited and pro-
tracted. Finally, the Managers consented to admit the students
on trial, and a committee was appointed to frame suitable regula-
tions for their government.

The monthly report of the Managers, presented December
ist, 1788, will give some idea of the financial difficulties of the
administration of charity at that period. It said : " At and since
the revolution, which placed the management and direction of this
institution under our care, the idea of abuses, negligence and want
of capacity under the late management hath been pretty generally
disseminated. To these causes the embarrassed and enctimbered
condition of its affairs hath, in a great measure, been ascribed, and
from the active and zealous part the Overseers took in the revolu-
tion, the public eye has been turned toward them with a fixed ex-
pectation of seeing considerable reforms effected. We think it
highly necessary therefore, at this time, to state for 3'our serious
consideration, a brief review of what progress we have made,
and an examination of what lies before us. On our first com-

36 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

mencing the management of this institution, it was found, on
examination and inquiry, to be encumbered with a load of debt, to
an unexpected and alarming amount. A regard for the welfare of
the institution and justice to its creditors required that some meas-
ures should be pursued to pay off or reduce that debt. The last
assessment granted to the late Managers for ^8600, although suffi-
cient for the support and employment of the poor, was judged
inadequate, if collected in paper money, for the purpose of such
pajmient or reduction. An application was therefore made to the
Magistrates for the assessment of that sum in specie, which they
were induced to issue their warrants for, on the representation
made to them of the embarrassed state of the institution, and that
a considerable part of this sum was wanted for and intended to be
appropriated to the discharge of its debts. On attempting to col-
lect this tax great murmurs and discontent were expressed at
the poor rate being as high in specie, as it had been before in paper
money, and considerable opposition was made by some in paying
it in specie. We surmounted the difficulties thrown in our way
b}^ this opposition, and, in a measure, calmed the discontents of
our fellow citizens by alleging that the object of so great a tax
w^as to relieve the institution and its creditors b}^ a consider-
able diminution of its debts, and to effect this purpose an extraor-
dinary sum was necessary. These circumstances have placed us
in a very marked and conspicuous point of view. The creditors
of the institution are looking to pa3mient with anxiety, and our
fellow-citizens behold us with a steady expectation that we will
remove the cause of such extraordinary contributions. And as we
have received every sanction and aid that the magistrates could
afford us, it now solel}^ rests on us to perform that on which we
stated our object to be, and on the event is our reputation at stake."
Those gentlemen recognized their responsibilities, and were
determined to faithfully perform their duties. They felt that their
" reputation was at stake," and, as the}' valued the kind they bore,
its preservation was deemed of importance, so they resolved to
carry out and fulfil all the pledges made before their selection and
to not forget what was due to their fellow-citizens and tax payers.

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 37

Some officials of later date have uot been so particular, as they
looked upon ante-election promises as being buried in the dead
past, and not worthy of a thought.

The details of the management of the House were carefully
scanned by the members of the Board, and while they were ever
ready to give credit when it was due, they did not hesitate to censure
or punish when they felt it was deserved. The minutes of Decem-
ber 15th, 1788 record that " The Steward and Matron of the House
of Employment were reprimanded on account of some unexplained
deficiencies in the returns of the spinning department. The Board
adopted the following rule : " That in future all deficiencies not
regularly and satisfactorily accounted for, shall be charged to the
Steward or Alatron, where such circumstance occurs under his or
her department, and the value of the same shall be stopped out of
his or her wages.''

CHAPTER III.

YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMICS-DISTINGUISHED PHYSICIANS ON DUTY.

THE physicians on duty at the Almshouse, at this period,
were the most distinguished and skillful to be found.
Among them were Drs. Samuel Powell Griffiths, John
Morris, Samuel Duffield, William Clarkson, William
Shippen, Caspar Wistar, Michael Eieb, and Nathan B. Waters,
men who have been looked upon as the early lights of science,
and w^iose names are still honored by the members of the profes-
sion.

At a meeting of the Board held on March 3d, 1790, the follow-
ing memorial was adopted and sent to the municipal authorities :
" That being informed of your having under consideration the
subject of renting out the lot now in use for the interment of
deceased strangers, commonly called Potter's Field, we deem it a
duty incumbent upon us to address you on the occasion, as affect-
ing, in some degree, the interest committed to our trust, and there-
fore use the libert}^ of laying before your view some circumstances
which, perhaps, are not generally known, and may be of use in
enabling you to judge whether it would not be for public benefit,
should you adopt the measure of leasing out said lot, to reserve to
the Guardians of the Poor the privilege of having graves dug for
the interment of such paupers as may die under their care. We
have reason to believe that on due inquiry it would appear that
more than 120 persons are annually interred whose coffins are
made and graves dug by paupers in this institution, whose labor
in au}^ other way, would, from their unskillfulness and incapacity,
be very little productive for the public interest, and should the
Guardians of the Poor be deprived of their present economical
means of making use of their labor in the interment of those for
whose funeral expenses the public must pay, this deprivation will
impose an additional burthen on our fellow citizens who pay poor
taxes, by an increase of expense to which the whole income of the

ground proposed to be leased may not bear a due proportion." In

3«

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 39

answer to this document it was stated that the corporation designed
to reserve to the Guardians of the Poor the right of interment in
the Potter's Field.

The steward of the House entered complaint against the
" invalid pensioners," several of whom had been a burden to the
House since the close of the Revolutionary War. It was charged
that these disabled soldiers were in the habit of selling their pen-
sions before they became due, thus defrauding the institution of
any compensation for their maintenance. A bill in regard to pen-
sions being before the Legislature at the time, steps were taken to
have a clause inserted to prevent the pensioners selling their
claims. This was accomplished, and afterwards the old soldiers
had to pay their way at the Almshouse.

John Cummings was steward of the x\lmshouse at that time.
He had held the position more than twenty years, and had been
active and influential in organizing the system upon which this
great charity was administered. At a meeting of the Board, held
in February, 1792, it w^as ordered to be entered on the minutes as
a recommendation for Mr. Cummings to the succeeding Board,
that for more than twenty years " his attention to the various
duties of his station has been unremitted, his integrity unim-
peached, and his humanit}^ conspicuous." It had the desired
effect, as the new Board not only retained him, but increased
his salary as well. I\Ir. Cummings lived in times when faithful
services were appreciated.

A memorial was addressed to the Legislature asking for a
modification of the poor laws. It appeared that by the loth sec-
tion of an Act passed in 1767, the Justices of the Peace were
authorized to commit " rogues, vagabonds and other idle and dis
solute persons to the House of Employment." This class of
inmates became a great nuisance in the institution. The Guard-
ians stated that " children, on whose minds first impressions are the
most lasting, were exposed to improper examples, while the more
advanced in years, to whom nothing worse than poverty or disease
could be imputed, and to alleviate whose distresses the first contri-
butions to the House of Employment were made, were confounded,

40 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

with the rogues, the vagabonds and the culprits. Thus this pub-
lic charity, intended to be a decent and respectable abode for the
poor and infirm, was converted, into a place of tumult, disorder and
punishment." At the same time the Board abolished the practice
of distributing a daily allowance of rum to paupers employed by
the institution, having found that such a course only tended to
promote disorder and keep alive a thirst for intoxicating liquor.

In 1793 the city was visited by that terrible plague — yellow
fever. It made its appearance in July, in a lodging house on
Water Street, but it was not until the middle of August that its
progress attracted attention. The Guardians of the Poor refused
to receive any more persons in the Almshouse, This was intended
as a protection to the inmates, but the disease broke out among
them, and many were attacked. Some were sent to the Hospital
at Bush Hill, No one could conceive the conditions at that time.
A panic seized the people, and we are informed by writers that the
streets were filled with fleeing families, who, in their terror, had
not onl}^ left their homes, but the stricken of their household.

On every hand one could see carts with rough boxes contain-
ing the dead hurrying to the graveyards. Men locked themselves
in their homes ; all social intercourse ceased, and one half of the
houses were deserted. The Federal Government removed to Ger-
mantown, and all kinds of industry ceased. Coffins were piled
along the streets, and the cry, " bring out your dead ! " could be
heard at intervals. Bodies lay rotting on the highways for want
of burial ; whole families were swept away.

It was impossible to procure suitable nurses ; only the most
depraved creatures could be hired.

Mayor Clarkson, on September loth, 1793, called for volun-
teers to relieve the Guardians of the Poor. Of those remaining in
the city only ten responded, and among them was Stephen Girard,
the French " merchant and mariner." He became the master
spirit of the Committee of Safety. Matthew Carey, in his "account
of the malignant Fever lately Prevalent in Philadelphia," describes
Bush Hill Hospital, as it was in the early part of the epidemic, as
follows : " A profligate, abandoned set of nurses and attendants —

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 41

hardly aii}^ of good character could be procured — rioted on the pro-
visions and comforts prepared for the sick, who, unless at the hours
when the doctors- attended, were left entirely destitute of every
assistance. The sick, the dying and the dead were indiscriminately
mingled together. The ordure and other evacuations of the sick
were allowed to remain in the most offensive state imaginable.
Not the smallest appearance of order or regularity existed. It was,
in fact, a great human slaughter house, where numerous victims
were immolated at the altar of riot and intemperance. No wonder,
then, that a general dread of the place prevailed, and that a removal
to it was considered as the seal of death." Who would volunteer
to take charge of such a pest-house ?

No one could consider it as being less than suicidal. Stephen
Girard, millionaire, with ever^^thing to live for, immediately came
to the front and offered his services for that benevolent work. He
was joined by Peter Helm, a noble ]Moravian, and, Avithout stopping
to attend to any private affairs, they went forth together, divided
the work, and for two months both of these heroes spent from six
to eight hours ever}^ da}^ at the hospital. When they saw the con-
dition of that place they started to reform it. It was a terrible
task, but their courage, charit}- and labor were wonderful. iVn eye
witness of the scenes, in speaking of Girard, said : " He had to
encourage and comfort the sick, to hand them necessaries and
medicines, to wipe the sweat off their brows, to perform many
offices of kindness for them which nothing could render tolerable
but the exalted motives that impelled him to this heroic conduct."

It was stated that at least 17,000 people fled from the city,
and at one time not more than 23,000 remained. It was estimated
that there were nearl}- 5,000 deaths during the few months the
epidemic raged.

When the disease was at its height the visits of the Guardians
to the Almshouse were not frequent, but the steward and the medi-
cal attendants never deserted their posts. The}- stuck to their
duty, attending to their flock of poor old friendless wrecks.

In December, 1793, the house was again opened to receive
persons entitled to aid. At a meeting of the Guardians, after all

42 History of Philadelphia Ahnshouses and Hospitals.

vestige of the fever had disappeared from the city, the following
preamble and resolution were adopted : " The Board, taking into
consideration the dangerous and difficult situation in which the
steward of this institution was placed, b}^ reason of the prevalence
of the late yellow fever, together with the intrepid firmness and
resolution with which he, undisma3'ed, adhered to the duties of his
place, Resolved^ nnauijuoiisly, That the sincerest thanks of the
Board be presented to John Cummings, steward of this institution,
for his firm, intrepid and vigilant attention to the various and
important duties of his office, and that a committee of three be
appointed to report this resolution to Mr. Cummings."

The services of the steward were further recognized by an
extra appropriation of two hundred dollars for his famil}-. At the
same time the matron, Martha Alarshall, was also complimented
upon the steady heroism she had displaj'-ed during the gloomiest
period of the pestilence. Martha Marshall, a noble woman, took
the place of Mrs. Cummings, wife of the steward, who had died at
her post.

The brave and faithful Cummings continued in the service of
the institution for more than thirty years, at the end of which age
and infirmities compelled him to resign. No officer could have
had a greater claim on the gratitude of the public. Honest, indus-
trious, intelligent and resolute, he was always at his post, read}^ to
make an}^ sacrifice for the benefit of those under his care. It is a
pleasure to write of such a man, and is doubly so when it is seen
that his services were recognized and appreciated. That has a
tendency to make good officials and improves the service. When
Mr. Cummings resigned Aaron Musgrave was elected to succeed
him.

The Board adopted a resolution increasing the steward's
salar}^, but directing him to pay the late steward, during the
remainder of his life, the sum of two hundred dollars per annum.
The Board endeavored to make the last days of a faithful servant
comfortable. It was subsequently discovered that they had no
authority to make such an appropriation, and it was revoked.
Peter Brow^ne, Esq., paid the amount out of his own purse.

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 48

]\Ir. ]\Iusgrave only acted as steward two years. Some offi-
cious person made trivial charges against him. He demanded an
investigation, and after it was shown that the allegations were
false he resigned. Jacob Philips w^as elected to fill vacancy.

In August, 1798, the yellow fever again made its appearance.
The steward was directed to allow no persons to be admitted with-
out a certificate from the attending physicians. Frequent confer-
ences took place between the Guardians, the Board of Health and
the managers of the Marine City Hospital for the purpose of
securing accommodations for the poor of the city and districts, and
to aid persons who desired to remove outside of the city limits. In
September it was concluded to solicit a loan on subscription, the
money to be used for their purposes. During the month of
November between two and three hundred children, utterl 3' destitute,
were sent to the Guardians of the Poor, their parents having fallen
victims to the fever.

It was stated tiiat during the prevalence of the epidemic, in
this year, at least 50,000 persons fled from the city, leaving only
about 3,000 remaining in Philadelphia.

In the same 3'ear the w^hooping cough prevailed to an alarm-
ing extent; almost ever}^ house was visited b^Mt. This was a 3'ear
of trouble and distress.

In 1S03 the institution was crowded. The average population
had become so large, being about five hundred and fort3', that it
was necessar3^ to make additions to the buildings. Mr. Isaac T.
Hopper, a well known philanthropist, made a number of sugges-
tions ; some additions were made to the premises, and, what was
considered, in those da3^s, suitable accommodations for the insane,
were arranged. At this time clinical lectures were introduced at
the Almshouse, at the request of Dr. Charles Caldwell. The
doctor was allowed to introduce and instruct a class of twent3' —
afterwards fort3' — students, during his visits to the medical wards,
on condition of his becoming responsible for their good deportment.
When this was inaugurated many persons considered it as a rather
dangerous innovation, as medical students were surrounded b3' an
atmosphere of m3'ster3' and suspicion at that period.

44 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

In this 3''ear an Act was passed by the Legislature which pro-
vided that " the Guardians of the Poor, who shall be substantial
housekeepers," shall be elected annualh^, sixteen by the corporation
of the cit3% six b}^ Southw^ark corporation, and eight by the Justices
of the Peace of the township of Northern Liberties.'' Outside of
the city. Northern Liberties and. Southwark the poor were attended
to by the Overseers of their respective districts.

In September, 1803, there was another fever panic in Phila-
delphia. The Guardians adopted precautions to prevent the dis-
ease from getting among the inmates of the Almshouse. They
secured the building known as tbe Pennsylvania Arsenal for a
temporary hospital. Another building, belonging to Dr. Curry,
situated on the banks of the Schuylkill, near Race street, was
tendered to the Board, fitted up with twent3/-five bedsteads and
bedding, and used for the reception of the paupers during the
prevalence of the fever. The pestilence proved very destructive,
and the demands upon the labor and money of those having the
distribution of charity in charge was unceasing. Air. Philips, the
Steward of the Almshouse, proved worthy of his charge, and
earned the gratitude of the public by bis energy and attention to
the sufferiuQfs of those around him. He fell a victim to his devo-
tion to duty, and died at his post, in December, 1803. He deserved
a monument, at least, from the people he served.

A serious difficulty, or c[uarrel, occurred between Doctors
Thomas C. James and Charles Caldwell, both of whom were en-
gaged at the Almshouse. It appeared that Dr. James charged Dr.
Caldwell with altering a figure on one receipt and a date on another
after the}-' had been received from the Treasurer of the College of
Physicians.

The accused demanded an investigation by a committee of the
Guardians. The Managers declined to take such action, in a case
which seemed to them to be nothing but a personal quarrel, and
referred the parties to the legal tribunals.

Dr. Caldwell sent the following communication, November
17th, 1803, to the Board :

" I have reason to believe that Dr. Thomas C. James con-

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 4.)

tiiuies to urge a decision by the Managers of the Almshouse on
the subject of the misunderstanding between him and m3'self. I
make no comment on the spirit of determined hostility and inex-
orable rancor with which he has pursued this business since its
commencement.

" If the charges he has alleged against me be well founded,
they amount to high offences against the laws of my countrj^
They are also of such nature as to-be cognizable b}^ those laws.
On my countr}^ therefore, I throw myself, for a fair, legal and im-
partial trial. From the justice of the government under which I
live, I have every assurance that such a trial will be readil}' ob-
tained. On the issue of that I am willing to rest ni}' reputation
and fate, both as an officer of the Almshouse and as a private citi-
zen. And as Dr. James has not brought it to this issue b}- com-
mencing a prosecution against me, I will certainl3^ do it, bj^ bringing
an action against him for his slanders and malice. As I am deter-
mined to bring the matter as soon as possible before the proper tri-
bunal, I cannot for a moment suspect that the Board of Managers
will come to any decision on it. which might tend to prejudice the
public mind, and prevent the current of justice from flowing in its
native purity.

" It is impossible for the Board to institute such an investiga-
tion as will put them in possession of all the requisite testimony
on the subject. Should they undertake to decide on partial
testimony, and the decision prove unfavorable to me, the}- will there-
fore oblige me to meet a suit under all the adverse impressions which
such a decision would necessarily produce on the minds of m}^ fellow-
citizens, from among whom a jnr}'- must be chosen at no ver3' dis-
tant day to decide on the matter in a court of justice. I under-
stand the affair has been laid b}^ Dr. James before his Excellency
the Governor, with a request that he would remove me from the
Board of Health. The talents, information and uprightness of
that gentleman w-ill not be doubted. But his love of justice con-
stitutes a pre-eminent trait in his character. He, therefore, very
properly declined taking, at present, any concern in the business,
conscious that a removal from the Board of Health would be a

40 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

prejudice of the question, and tend to a violation of that justice
which has been the business of his life to cherish and protect."

The Doctor desired the Board to follow the Governor's ex-
ample, and the Managers did so.

Dr. James sustained his charges by producing letters from
officials connected with the College of Physicians, and seemed un-
relenting in his enmity.

At the ensuing election of ph3^sicians Dr. Caldwell was
dropped, but he was permitted to bring his pupils to the institu-
tion. Dr. James was re-elected, and was the cause of considerable
comment. The Board showed a weakness. If Dr. Caldwell was
not fit to be retained on the staff he certainly should, not have been
allowed the privilege of taking his class to the House.

Dr. James soon got into difficult}^, and a number of distin-
guished physicians, including Dr. Philip Syng Phj^sic, were re-
quested by the Board to investigate. Their report said : "A
complaint of a very serious nature having, at your last meeting,
been charged before you against one of the present attending
physicians, and by you referred to our judgment, we have, without
delay, carefully inquired into the circumstances. They were suc-
cinctly these : Dr. James, the physician complained of, prescribed
camphor in small doses of ten or fifteen grains for Savage, a maniac,
leaving a choice of either quantity to the discretion of the senior
pupil. Dr. Scott. The medicine was made up in the form of a
mixture, but the portion given at each dose amounted to about
thirty grains. This error is not attributable to Dr. James, whose
conduct was cautious and correct. The matter, too, was in itself
harmless, this patient, while in the Pennsylvania Hospital, having
been in the habit of taking quantities of much more considerable
amount.

" It is our duty to state our apprehensions that much worse
mistakes occur, and these frequentl}^, under the present manner of
prescribing. In order that they may, in the future be obviated,
we beg to propose that the senior pupil should enter into a book an
accurate account of the S3miptoms with which each patient is
affected, and a regular register of the medical treatment.

History of Pliiladelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 47

" The attending physicians may, for their own sakes, and the
benefit of their pupils, preserve similar case books, and these will
serve as a check upon each other. The measure here urged is not
new or unprecedented ; it is practiced in all the principal hospitals
in Europe ; it would not be attended with much trouble, and in a
long time would form a collection of medical facts of high value.

" The occurrence which has induced the present communica-
tion, solemnly presses upon us as an additional observation, if
medicines are not duly administered, if any nurse or other domes-
tic declines administering a medicine, because it does not suit their
own conception of what is proper, the patient may, in acute cases,
be suddenly destroyed and murder perpetrated by ignorance under
the roof of charity. The well being of the patient and the char-
acter of the physician demand the removal of any person whatever
guilty of conduct subversive of both."

Mr. John Trout, a member of the Board of Managers, was
appointed Steward of the Almshouse in /Vpril, 1804. It appears
that no suitable person could be found to fill the position, and the
institution had been left without an efficient superintendent since
the death of Mr. Philips. Under these circumstances, Mr. Trout
was persuaded to accept the situation. Previous to doing so, he
resigned his office as a Guardian.

The report of a committee made on the 3d day of September,
1804, seemed to have some connection with the " additional obser-
vation " contained in that of the medical gentlemen who investi-
gated the charges made against Dr. James, although some time
elapsed between the dates of the two reports. The committee's
investigation appears to have discovered the foundation of the
thoughts expressed in the previous report, and the facts were
stated to the Board as follows : " The charges made against James
Malanafy are : That he has drawn liquor for the patients after they
have been discharged from his ward ; that he has been frequently
intoxicated in such manner as not to be able to administer the
medicines prescribed for patients under his immediate care ; that,
after he has drawn liquor for the patients in his ward, he has taken
the same for his own use ; that he hath, after the death of a patient,

48 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals,

selected the best of the clothing and sent the remainder to the
Steward ; that a patient named Thomas Loudin drew liquor for
eight or ten weeks, but did not get a half-pint from the whole that
was drawn ; that there were several charges similar to this ; that
John Moore, a barber, who died three or four weeks ago, was visited
by Dr. Petre, who ordered a certain quantity of laudanum to be
given him ; but instead of the laudanum as ordered, James Malan-
afy gave him a pill ; that in about ten minutes after he gave him
the pill, the patient began to feel ver}^ uneasy and ' drew breath
like a horse,' and he died the next day ; that for a considerable time
before the Managers ordered the gates to be closed, the tea and
coffee received by the patients was such that nobody could tell
which was tea and which wa'S coffee."

" The charges against Elizabeth Donnelly are : That she gets
intoxicated ; that she has declared to one of the patients, now in
the ward, that she had sold as much coffee as produced her six dol-
lars, which was a sum sufficient to purchase her a new gown, and
at the same time expressed her regret that the other nurses had
not had the same opportunities as she enjoyed ; and further, that
as Malanafy was nurse, she could act as she pleased ; that she had
destroyed the medicines she should have administered to the
patients."

These facts, showing how patients in the hospital had actually
been murdered through neglect, or worse, were known to but few
persons, and instead of this pair of ungrateful, dishonest murderers
being sent to prison and punished as they so richly deserved, they
were simply discharged from the institution. One can scarcely
believe that such depraved creatures could exist, and it is a sad
reflection upon the management of the institution to find that such
a condition of affairs had been allowed to continue for an}' length
of time.

CHAPTER IV.

TERRIBLE CONDITION OF INSANE PATIENTS— BAD CONDITION OF

SURGICAL WARDS.

THE Managers saw that it was absolutely necessary to enlarge
the accommodations for the constantly increasing numbers
that applied to them. The committee reported that the
Almshouse was continually crowded, and the constantly
increasing population of the city would soon develop an amount of
pauperism for which no provision had been made. It was expected
that there would be one thousand in the institution during the
coming winter. It was resolved to build another addition on
Spruce street, between the two buildings then standing, and to
erect outhouses and make alterations for the purpose of securing
accommodations for several hundred more paupers.

When the Board concluded that the additional buildings would
be required, the question of funds was a serious one. There was
no money available, and the Legislature was again applied to. The
petition sent was as follows :

" That although the beneficial effects of republican govern-
ment have prevented the claimants of eleemosynar}^ bount}- from
being in any wise proportionate to the increase of population, yet
this, rapidly progressing, has at last attained such a height as to
render the present buildings utterly incompetent to the purposes
for which they were destined. That your memorialists, involved
by their predecessors in a debt of $20,000, one-third of which was
unnecessarily incurred from the retention of maniacs iu-the Penn-
sylvania Hospital, are unable to erect buildings of the extent which
has become at present necessary.

'' That the institution comprises a poorhouse, a house for the
reception of the aged and infirm, whose condition incapacitates
them from earning a subsistence ; an orphan and foundling hospi-
tal ; a ward for lying-in indigent women ; apartments adapted to
the treatment of the insane ; workshops for those who are capable
of exercising every species of industrv ; an extensive hospital for
4 "^ " 49

50 Histor}' of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

poor male and female patients requiring medical and surgical
treatment.

" That though each of these departments has, in most cities
been separated into distinct establishments, severally endowed with
donations, benefactions, legacies and permanent public provisions,
3^et this complex institution has heretofore occasioned little or no
expense to the State.

" That though your memorialists, resting solely on the merits
of their cause, would wish to evade any invidious reflection, yet in
justice to the distressed, they cannot forbear remarking that the
Pennsylvania Hospital, which, rich in estates and property, has
received large and repeated assistance from the munificence of for-
mer Legislatures, is shut against the poor, and exacts a sum from
all those admitted more than equivalent to the expense of their
board and lodging, giving only medical treatment gratis. That
your memorialists submit another consideration : the merits of the
profession in this medical school of Philadelphia have attracted
students from all parts of the United States, and some from other
countries, thereby saving the exportation of very considerable sums
heretofore expended in Europe, and exalting the American charac-
ter. That the Pennsylvania Hospital, which from the difficulty of
admission, on an average contains no more than from sixty to
eighty patients, is not a very important adjunct of the medical
school, affording few examples of disease and but limited lessons
in practice to the students, while the Almshouse contains, on an
average, between six and seven hundred persons, and at present
nearly one thousand within its apartments ; and, of course, might
be, in this respect, rendered more eminently useful and instructive.

" Finally, your memorialists, conceiving that one-fifth of the
admitted paupers being from various and remote parts of the State,
gives them a claim on general assistance, but they rest with the
more assurance on the respect for science, morals and humanity
entertained by their enlightened representatives, and, therefore,
pray that, taking the premises into consideration, the Legislature
may be plea.sed to assist them in effecting the necessary alterations
and additions to the Almshouse by a grant of $50,000."

History of Philadelphia Alinshoiises and Hospitals. 51

This memorial caused considerable discussion and comment,
but the amount applied for was not appropriated.

The '' malignant fever," which had been the cause of so much
distress on its previous visits, again made trouble in August, 1805.
A large number of the paupers was attacked, and to prevent the
spread of the contagion in the institution, the old sugar house of
James iVsh was rented for the accommodation of the sick. Patrick
McFell was steward at that time. A report was circulated that a
sick woman had died in consequence of the neglect of the physi-
cians, and the Guardians of the Poor asked for an investigation.
The managers of the House paid no attention to the request.

In November a man named Thomas Barry, who had been an
inmate, was promoted to the position of cell keeper, on account of
good conduct, then demoted to his former condition as a pauper by
reason of unsatisfactory performance of dut}^, and finally dis-
charged from the House for insubordination, caused considerable
anxiety for the Board, and much food for gossip to the community.

It was stated that Barry had publicl}^ declared that '^ he would
consume the factory," which was construed to mean that he would
set fire to it. A communication, signed by Barry, appeared in the
Freeman'' s Journal^ in which he charged gross mismanagement
and abuse in the manufacturing department of the Almshouse.

The charges were investigated, and it was found that there
was no truth in them. No attempt was made to '"consume" the
House, but there is nothing to show that Barry was ever prosecuted
for the threats he made.

In Februar}', 1806, a communication, signed " Detector,"
appeared in the Freenia?i''s Journal, alleging that certain abuses
existed in the Almshouse. The Board demanded the name of
the writer, and it was William Ross, the President of the Board. The
charges made by Ross were : " That the matron's brother and his
wife were in the habit of residing in the House for several month.s
at a time at the public expense ; that the matron had a number of the
paupers emplo3-ed for her individual benefit, for about eighteen
months ; that the matron was in the habit of drawing barrels of
flour and sugar for her own use, and without the authority of the

52 History of Philadelpliia Almshouses and Hospitals.

managers, and finally that members of the Board were in the
habit of passing some evenings in the matron's apartments, whereb}-
an undne influence was gained in her favor."

The charges were investigated in a manner. The matron was
questioned and denied the allegations, and she was considered
innocent. The President was censured and compelled to resign.

Whether the charges were true or not, it was a mean and
undignified way to get them before the Board. It would have been
much more honorable on the part of Mr. Ross if he had called the
attention of his colleagues to what he knew or believed, instead of
sending it out to the public through the newspapers. He must
have known that it was a contemptible way to act, as he was either
ashamed or afraid to sign his name to the papers. Whatever may
have been the motive that prompted him, it reflected no credit upon
him, either as an official or as a man.

Daring the month of August, 1807, an epidemic of influenza
broke out in the House, attacking both officers and inmates, and
prevailing in so violent a form and so general, as to interrupt the
ordinary routine of business.

More charges were investigated, and on the 23d of May, 1808,
the committee submitted the following report :

" The various subjects submitted for consideration are of a
nature sufficiently important to command the serious consideration
of the committee. The instances of immorality and depravity that
our inquiry and examination made manifest are productive of
infinite regret, and incline us to believe that some further provi-
sion is necessar}' for the well government of the House. The
daily violation of the ordinary laws of society and of the rules and
regulations established by this Board, ought not to be tolerated
for a single moment. The pilfering of clothing, provisions, etc.,
and the introduction of spirituous liquors, with the consequences of
drunkenness, elopement and fornication, and the perfectly system-
atized and good understanding which exists between the persons,
concerned, have become so flagrant and notorious as loudh^ to
demand the immediate interposition of this Board, and the utmost
vigilance and activity of the steward and the officers of the House,

"D
I

r-
>

D
m

>
>

History of Pliiladelpliia Almshouses and Hospitals. -"jS

and that offenders may be speedily and exeniplarily punished-
We are aware that to apply an adequate remed}' for diseases
so complicated, is an undertaking of no common labor ; it is a work
that requires time and. experience, assisted by all the resolution,
skill and industry of the Board to accomplish.

" Permit us to add that it is more sureh' traced to a sensi-
bility too earl}^ excited, an ill-timed relaxation of official severity,
or a deficienc}" of that scrupulous adherence so indispensible in our
determination, to which may be added the extreme difficulty of
substantiating offenses by legal evidence.

" Suits were commenced b}^ the committee against certain
tippling houses in the neighborhood of the institution whose
unlawful practices, it is presumed, contributed to increase the
irregularities in the House.

'' But a prevention, not a punishment, was the object of the
Board ; and from the solicitations, several of which the Board
heard, and the most solemn assurances of amendment, the com-
mittee was prevailed upon to stay the proceedings for the present,
the Attorney General having entered a 710/ pros., at the same
time informing them that on the smallest deviation from their
present engagements they should be proceeded against with the
utmost severit}^ of the law."

The report was accompanied by resolutions providing for the
government of the institution, etc., and was adopted.

That report revealed a terrible condition of affairs. There
did not appear to be any semblance of management. It was an
arraignment of the incompetenc}^ of the steward and all connected
with the management of the institution ; and no doubt the best
course to pursue, under such circumstances, would be to dispense
with the services (?) of officials who could allow such demoraliza-
tion and rascalit}' to exist in an}- kind of an establishment, and
especiall}- in one of that character, without immediately adopting
measures to correct the abuses and reform the management of it.

One of the cases that attracted attention was that of Alary
Lawyer, an inmate in 1S08. She had been in the House several
months and M-as likely to remain there. Her father, Christian

54 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

Lawyer, had been a man of means, and when he died he left a will,
in which after providing for the payment of his debts, etc., he left
" the annual income and. the income of all the residue and remain-
der of his property " to his beloved wife for and. during her natural
life, if she so long remained his widow, unmarried, and not otJier-
luise.

He provided that after the death or marriage of his wife,
" whichever shall first happen," all of his estate, real and personal,
should go to his five beloved children — Mary, etc., — to be equally
divided between them, except that his daughter Mary and his son
John were to receive twenty-seven dollars more than the others.

The wife and John Sheble were appointed executors. The
" beloved wife " did not long remain unmarried, but she refused to
relinquish the property. The children, most of whom were under
age, were left destitute, and Mary, who was of age, was compelled
to go to the Almshouse.

John Sheble brought the case to the attention of the Guardians
of the Poor, and suit was entered ; the unnatural mother fought to
the end, but was compelled to surrender, and Mary Lawyer left the
Almshouse to live on her share of her father's estate.

It was very fortunate for those poor children that their father
had prudently inserted the clause in his will which cut the hard-
hearted mother off when she remarried.

The goods manufactured in the Almshouse amounted to con-
siderable, and met with a ready sale. Stephen Girard sent fifty-two
hundred pounds of cotton there at one time, for which he was to
receive a certain number of counterpanes and covers when they
were made. The cash received amounted to a respectable sum,
which reduced the cost of maintenance somewhat. The managers
received the following notice in December, iSoS: "The minutes
of the Board of Managers of the Philadelphia Premium Society
require of me the agreeable duty of announcing that the sum of
^25 has been awarded to the institution over which you so excel-
lently preside as " to the individual or company who first sets up
a throwing or thread machine and lodges, as a specimen, at the
Philadelphia Society's warehouse, at least sixty pounds v/eight of

History of Philadelphia Ahnshonses and Hospitals. '>■')

the grey and colored kinds (the Scotch slender thread, snch as is
used by the tailors, upholsterers, bookbinders, etc., being the
thread recommended for imitation) and also that the premium of
$20, whicb, for obtainment, requires the best piece of sheeting,
thirty-three yards long and nine-eighths wide, made of linen chain
and cotton filling, bleached and fit for sale, has been awarded to
3'our institution. Of your second exhibit the circumstance of its
being part of thirty thousand yards of cloth completed within the
past year does you the greater honor, as you have no motive save
the good of the countr}'.''

The Philadelphia Premium Society was an association estab-
lished to promote domestic manufactures and the useful arts ; the
managers of the Almshouse were justly proud of the honor achieved
and greatly encouraged in their work.

The first move for an institution on a large scale, and located
on a farm, was made as far back as 180S. The committee sug-
gested that with a farm, a few miles from the city, and containing
from three to five hundred acres, the poor, or a greater part of
them, could earn their subsistence, and thus diminish the poor
tax. Although it was considered advisable to purchase a farm at
that time it took about twenty 3'ears to accomplish it.

In the minutes of July, 18 10, appears the report of a commit-
tee regarding the case of a patient, a colored man, named Robert
Easton, who jumped from one of the windows of the sick men's
wards.

One of the patients lying near Easton's bed saw him get up
at about half-past one o'clock and go to the convenience. As that
was a usual thing, it caused no alarm. A woman was on a porch
near to where he fell, but she did not hear the fall. She heard his
groans, and saw him on the ground. She gave the alarm, and
James, the assistant to the nurse in the ward, dressed himself and
went down to the man. When James asked him how he came
there, Easton replied that he had jumped out of the window, because
he wanted to die. They carried him up to his bed. when James,
thinking the man was insane, and perceiving no injury from the
fall, put a chain upon his feet for security. The physicians were

56 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals,

notified of the accident immediately. James first informed Dr.
Gordon. He desired him to notify Dr. Stewart, and he did so.
The doctor inquired if the man was hurt, but did not go to him to see.
James said that he did not seem to be, as far as he knew. Dr. Stewart
told him to let it go until morning. The unfortunate man was
then left in that condition until four o'clock, when James, hearing
him groan, and fearing that he might want assistance, went to him
and found him evidently dying. No further notice was given to
the doctors and the man died in a few minutes after.

The report showed gross negligence on the part of the phj^si-
cians. They should have examined the man immediateh^ to see
whether he was injured, and not take the judgment of an ignorant
assistant to the nurse.

The affair caused considerable gossip, and it was asserted that
Kaston had been put in chains and so badly treated that he had
jumped out of the window to escape the cruelt3^ It ^^as also said
that he died for want of medical attention. There was probably
some truth in the latter assertion.

The only action taken by the Board was to order the Steward
to have iron bars put on the windows. That did not help the rep-
utation of the House in the estimation of the community, and the
Almshouse became an object of suspicion. The records show that
the physicians gave the Managers a great deal of trouble. There
were repeated complaints of violating the rules, neglecting the sick,
and interfering with the discipline of the House.

Committees of investigation were appointed, new and more
stringent rules framed, and attempts made to enforce them ; but
the complaints still poured in to the Board. The trouble was
there was no competent head in charge of the institution.

The sale of liquor to the jDaupers by the proprietors of tippling
houses on Spruce street was another source of annoyance to the
Managers. Inmates purchased the rum and took it in the House,
and drunkenness and disorder was the result. The friends of in-
mates smuggled it in to them, and the officials did not seem to
know what to do about it. The keepers of the taverns were prose-
cuted, the drunken paupers were punished, but still it continued.

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. •")!

Patrick McFell, who had been Steward several years, was dis-
missed for not enforcing the rnles of the House ; not visiting the
various departments, and showing a lack of judgment on several
occasions. It would have been better for the institution if the
action had been taken much sooner. His incompetency had been
clearl}^ shown by the condition of the House, as shown by the com-
mittee's report in IMa}^ 1808.

There was a n timber of changes made in the manufacturing
department ; some labor-saving machiner\^, which had been intro-
duced for the spinning of cotton and wool, was abandoned ; all
hired labor was dispensed with, and the Superintendent's services
were discontinued. For a long time .the factory of the Almshouse
had been the largest and most productive of any in the city, but
the Managers concluded that too much attention had been paid to
that department, to the detriment of more important branches.
The changes made destroyed its importance in the eyes of the
communit}^

Considerable speculation was indtilged in at this time as to the
proper course to be taken in regard to the insane patients in the
Almshouse. They were placed in dark, close and damp cells in the
eastern wing, and the medical gentlemen did not seem to trouble
themselves very mitch about them. The}^ appeared to think that
insanit}'' was" incurable, and even the mildest cases were in cages
like wild beasts, and exposed to the gaze and jee^rs of heartless
visitors, who laughed at them and treated them as though the}'
were monkeys or other animals on exhibition in a zoological garden.
The west end was finall}^ selected for the confinement of these poor
creatures, but their condition was not much improved. It took a
number of 3^ears to learn how to treat those unfortunates, but the
knowledge has been gained and applied at last.

At a meeting of the Managers on September 20th, 181 1, a
resolution was adopted which caused considerable comment.
The Board had been informed that certain persons had been in
the habit of preaching in the sick wards " on the first day
of the week,'' frequently to the injur}^ of the patients. The
Managers regarded this as "neither a moral or religious wa}-

58 History of Philadelphia Alnishoiises and Hospitals.

of hastening the afflicted into the grave," and prohibited its
repetition.

Arrangements were made, however, for preaching the gospel
on Sundays in a part of the House, remote from the hearing of
the sick.

The siirgeons reported that they were compelled to perform
severe surgical operations in the room crowded with the sick, and
they spoke of the effects of the spectacle upon the suffering audi-
ence, as being terrible and cruel. The Board adopted a resolu-
tion to secure an apartment to be devoted exclusively to surgical
operations.

It might well be said that the lot of the poor paupers, in those
days, was not a happy one, and they did not rest on a bed of roses.

CHAPTER V.

CONDITIONS DURING THE WAR OF 1812-15-RICPORT OF DR. RUSH ON

FEVER.

THE deplorable condition of the insane patients was again
bronght to the attention of the Board by the report of the
committee appointed, in the early part of 1812, "to inves-
tigate and report what measures would be necessary for the
improvement of the sj'stem of confinement adopted in taking care
of these unfortunate creatures." In their report occurs the fol-
lowing horrible statement : " Your committee must confess to the
Board their conviction that the comforts of the afflicted maniacs
cannot be materiall}^ improved, nor their disorder successfully con-
tended with, while they are exposed to the chilling damps of the
present lower cells; the confined situation of which, must, in many
cases, render useless the best directed efforts of medical skill. The
only apertures which are depended upon for the circulation of air
being near the ceiling of the apartment, must be, in a great mea-
ure, ineffectual for the purpose ; and when your committee reflect
upon the consequences that may be apprehended from the damp
and stagnant atmosphere acting on a system debilitated, perhaps
by disease, under the effects of derangement and the operations of
medical treatment, they are induced to feel the subject a very seri-
ous one. x^mong the incurable defects of the present cells, both
upper and lower, are noted their proximity to the sick and surgical
wards, by which the last moments of the sick are liable to dis-
quietude ; and the windows of one half open into a part of the
yard the most frequented by the paupers, perhaps of any in the
institution; and 3'our committee have no doubt of the ill effects of
an opportunit}^ for disturbing, by conversation or interruption, the
repose of the wretched tenants of the cells."

That report shows a terrible condition of affairs, and a sad want
of intelligence and ability on the part of the officials to change for

the better conditions that never should have existed.

00 History of Philadelphia Ahnshouses and Hospitals.

The outbreak of the war between the United States and Great
Britain caused a large increase of the population of the Alms-
house ; and, as the demand for goods stimulated the operations of
the factory, an opportunit}' to employ the surplus inmates was
afforded, and the manufacturing department again became of service.

A large cotton spinning machine was introduced, and the card-
ing machine, invented b}^ Mr Baxter, set up and operated, for a
short time, but it wsls a failure.

Prancis Higgins, Steward of the Penns3'lvania Hospital, died
in February, 1813, when Mr. Samuel Mason, Steward of the Alms-
house, was chosen to fill the vacancy. Mr. Mason was compli-
mented by the Board, upon his retirement, for " his indefatigable
attention to dut}^" Mr. J. A. Inslee took his place at the Alms-
house.

Much comment was caused by a report presented in March.
It read :

" The committee to whom was referred the application of the
' Evangelical Society,' of this State, requesting the grant of the
flax ward on Sunday afternoons, for the sole use of the preachers
of their societ}^, respectfully report that it appears to have been the
practice of this House for a long period of time, and probabl}^ from
the origin of this institution, to admit the regular preachers of
every Christian society on Sunda}^ morning and Sunday afternoon ;
that the flax ward being the largest and most convenient room for
that purpose, has been appropriated accordingly ; and that, in order
to prevent confusion, the Steward has been authorized to receive
the applications of the different ministers, and to give them the
privilege of holding forth to the people, according to the priority
of their applications. Your committee observe that, under this
regulation, there appears to have been a constant attendance of
preachers, and that the instances of the Sabbath passing away
without have been rare ; so that expedienc}^ cannot be urged in
favor of the proposed measure. Another consideration will, no
doubt, have weight with the Board. The paupers of this House
consists of Baptists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Catholics, Metho-
dists, Episcopalians and other sectarians. The exclusive grant of

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. <I1

one-half of the Sabbath to the disciples of one sect might be
deemed a measure savoring of partiality; and, however desirable
it might be to secure the attendance of Presbyterian preachers for
the afternoon, it might create a dissatisfaction in the disciples of
different doctrines, which would counterbalance the good effects
arising from it. There is no doubt in the minds of this committee
that if it were generally known that the Board was disposed to
grant applications similar to the present, every sect in this city
would request the same favor, and justly contend for an equality
of claim."

Although the Evangelists were respectfulh' informed that their
requests could not be granted, they did not give it up, and they
subsequently succeeded in getting control of the religious instruc-
tion. Tlie}^ framed a prayer for the use of the school children,
which is entered on the minutes of the Board as follows :

" PRAYER FOR THE ALMSHOUSE SCHOOL.

" Thou Most High and Holy God : we adore Thee as the
greatest and best of beings, who art always present with us, to
notice our conduct and mark our way. As Thou art an infinitely
pure and perfect Being, and we simple creatures who have deserved
nothing but eternal punishment, we beseech Thee, most gracious
Lord, to look upon us in mercy, and, for the sake of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ, pardon all our transgressions and love us
freely. We do entreat Thee, O Thou compassionate God, that
Thou wilt be pleased to look, in Thy great kindness and compas-
sion, upon these children in their pitiable condition. While we thank
Thee that, in the midst of their helplessness and wretchedness,
they have here an asylum where their food and raiment are pro-
vided for them, and where the}' are protected from the storm, we
pray that their souls may be precious in TI13' sight. Blessed
Saviour, pity them in their ignorance and miseries. Do unto them
as thou didst to the little ones in the da3^s of Th}^ sojourning in
our world. Take them in Thy arms of love and mercy and bless
them. Oh, suffer them not to grow up under the negative enmity
of their hearts against God, but turn them from sin to holiness,

62 History of Philadelphia Alinshoiises and Hospitals.

from the way of ungodliness to the path of righteousness. To
this end bless the means which are used to train them up in the
fear of the Lord, and to teach them the way in wliich they should
go. Let this place, O Lord, become a school of piety and a blessed
fountain from which manj^ streams shall flow, to make glad the
Church of Christ. Let these children know, in their own happy
experience, the gracious fulfilment of that promise of the Lord,
' They that seek me early shall find me.' Oh, may they find the
preciotis Saviour in the midst of their w^orldly distress and poverty,
that blessed treasure which is more valuable than worlds, even the
salvation of their souls. Bless, O Lord, this whole institution.
May all the sons and daughters of poverty in this place, both old
and young, be visited with th}^ saving grace and mercy. Let the
sick and the dying receive from Thee most gracious assurances that
their sins are pardoned through the blood of Jesus, and do Thou
enable them to seek of Thee this great blessing. Ma}^ they call
upon Thee whilst Thou art near. Give them penitent hearts and
a living faith in a Redeemer. We entreat Thee, Heavenly Father,
to bless all the afflicted and distressed throughout the world. Let
the saving knowledge of our Lord and Saviour fill the earth as the
w^aters fill the sea. Let Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on
earth as it is in heaven, and let all fiesh see Thy salvation. All
these favors we ask Thee in the name of our dear Redeemer, Jesus
Christ. Amen."

This prayer will show the kind of teaching the children
received at that period. A newspaper, published many years ago,
commented on that prayer in these words : " It will serve as a sam-
ple of the verbiage, contradiction and threatening horrors inflicted
upon children educated at the public expense, even in the present
enlightened generation. What a delightful frame of mind such a
form of prayer is calculated to produce in the little ones, who,
utterly unconscious of having committed any wrong or sin what-
ever, are compelled to say they have well merited eternal punish-
ment. How can they reconcile such instruction with Christ's
' Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of
such is the kingdom of heaven.' An evangelical hair splitter might

History of Philadelphia Almslionses and Hospitals. <)8

attempt to do it; but to a siniple-iiiinded, light-hearted child, as to
a man of common sense who has studied the life of Christ, the
brimstone mixture of this so-called prayer has a noxious odor.
The children of the Almshouse who are compelled to ' sit ' under
the Evangelical must be in a most pitiable condition."

In January, i8t8, the managers received from the Board of
Health a communication relative to a malignant fever which then
prevailed in the Almshouse, and caused considerable excitement
in this comnlunit3^ It was referred to Dr. James Rush, who was
one of the attending physicians, and he made the following report
on it :

^^ First. That the prevailing fever at present in Philadelphia
Almshouse appeared there about the beginning of November last,
since which time the number of patients admitted with it has grad-
ually increased.

" Second. That the disease is of malignant type, and passes
by the name of t^^phus fever. That the circumstances attending
its introduction to the House, its extension there and all other
points relative to a judgment upon the subject do not, in my opin-
ion, warrant an inference that it is a contagious disease. But at the
same time I wish to express n\y firm belief that the extent and
direction of the disease and its mortality will be much influenced
b}^ the atmosphere around the patient, and that uncrowded rooms
and free ventilation are, in this fever, among the important means
for its relief and removal.

" Third. The whole number of patients who have to this date
been under medical ireatment is eight3^-six. Of these sixteen have
died, twenty have been discharged cured, and there remains fifty,
fully one-half of whom are convalescent.

'' FourtJi. The gradual increase of the number of patients
admitted, which has heretofore taken place, still at this date con-
tinues ; nor does there appear anything connected with this disease
that makes its future duration determinable."'

The physicians differed as to the contagious nature of this
disease, and it was deemed prudent to separate the fever patients
from the other inmates of the House. The old suo-ar house was

64 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

again used as a hospital, and extra nurses were employed to attend
the sick. The fever panic lasted until April.

The managers passed resolutions of thanks to Mr. Inslee, the
steward, and his wife, for " the fidelity displayed during the period
of trial," and made each of them a handsome present in money.
A number of nurses and others were rewarded in the same manner.
Several medical students distinguished themselves at the time,
while others resigned and left the institution.

In the summer of 1820 a malignant fever again prevailed in
the Almshouse, and the medical students were charged with sup-
pressing facts which should have been reported to the Board. The
following preamble and resolution was adopted : " Whereas it
appears that early in the month of May there were reported upon
the returns made by the students of medicine and surger^^ in this
institution sundry cases of malignant fever, and there have occurred
during that month and all the months succeeding, many deaths in
the hospital of this institution, of persons whose diseases were of
the same character in all respects to those which had been previ-
ously reported as malignant, but that, at a period contemporaneous
with the efforts of the Board of Managers to draw the attention of
the Board of Health to those malignant cases, the students of this
House have foreborne or neglected to report, as it was their dut"^^
to report, such cases as were malignant, although the cases in the
sugar house were numerous and malignant, and bearing the worst
features of malignant bilious fever, of which disease several of the
nurses of the hospital have died, and it appearing to the managers
that the omission to report these cases to the Board was a breach
of duty on the part of the students and dangerous as a precedent,
therefore,

" Resolved^ That a committee of three be appointed to inquire
into the motives or causes of the changes made in the medical
reports and what measures it may be necessary to take to prevent
any suppression of facts in the future."

The only reason given by the students for the falsification of
the records was that " they wanted to prevent a panic."

The records do not show that any proper punishment was

History of Philadelphia Alinsliouses and Hospitals. 65

inflicted, and it might be presumed that this accounts for the con-
tinual trouble the managers had with those gentlemen.

Mr. William Duane, who had been Secretary of the Treasury
under President Jackson, was President of the Board of Managers,
and Silas Yerker, Samuel Emlen, Henry Barrington, Joel B.
Sutherland, Thomas D. Grover, John Wallace and Lawrence Shus-
ter, all well known and respected citizen, were members.

A committee submitted an amusing and instructive report at
the meeting in January, 1821, in which it was stated : " The com-
mittee have ascertained, that the zvell paupers, when employed at
work, said to be unusually laborious, are accustomed to receive
more or less spirituous liquor through the day, a practice which it
seems has been occasionally authorized by the visiting committee
of the week. The}^ believe this unnecessary, and. recommend a
prohibition of it, as, it would take away one strong motive which
keeps within its walls so many slothful inebriates, who are young,
strong and. able to maintain themselves outside by daily labor.
The other persons using liquors in this House, so far as the com-
mittee have ascertained, are the visiting physicians, the Committee
on Bastard}^, the out-door Guardians, and other visitors, and the
Board of Managers. The physicians and Committee on Bastardy
only receive in their rooms malt liquors, such as porter and ale.
The quantit}' used by them during the year could not be learned.
The closet in the managers' rooms is supplied with brand3^ wine
and other liquors, but no record is separately kept by which the
whole quantity used could be ascertained. The committee must
state as their belief that there is a very unnecessary and very
improper use of liquors in this room, and they respectfull}^ ask the
serious attention of managers to the subject."

The managers must have given the matter their " serious
attention." as they requested the doctors to use as little liquor as
possible.

In 182 1 there was a reorganization of the Board having charge
of the poor. The old Board of Managers was abolished, and
Guardians (23) were elected by the city and districts, and the gen-
eral management was given to them. They elected four of their
5

66 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

number to have the special direction of the Almshouse. The
Guardians held regular meetings at the institution.

One of the important duties of the Board was the binding out
of children. The uncertainty of the kind of persons who applied
for them, and the difficulty of enforcing the rules and the observ-
ance of the indentures frequentl}^ caused, the Board considerable
anxiety. If mistakes were made they v.-ere rectified as soon as the
facts became known.

The following preambles and resolution were adopted in Feb-
ruary, 1822 ;

" Whereas, It is believed that the binding out of children is
one of the most important trusts committed to the Guardians of the
Poor, inasmuch as the future improvement of the condition of the
poor must very much depend upon the education of youth ; and,

'' WhereAvS, It is important to place this interesting class of
our fellow beings under the care of persons who are in good moral
standing in society, and whose situation in life will enable them to
bring up those destitute 3^ouths to habits of industry and economy ;
and,

" Whereas, The managers of the Almshouse have recentl}^
bound a promising colored boy, named David Jacobs, aged nine
years, without the consent, and contrary to the remonstrances of
his mother, Rachel Jacobs, to a certain Solomon Sloby, a black
man, whose occupation was that of a wood sawyer, or day laborer,
to serve the said Sloby for no less than twelve years, seven
months, and eighteen daj'S, to learn the art, trade and myster}^ of
a house servant ; and,

" Whereas, the said Slo'by has, contrar}^ to the terms of
indenture, been driving him about the streets as a chimney sweep,
of which the mother justly complains ; therefore,

" Resolved^ That a committee be appointed who shall, in con-
j unction with the solicitor of the Board, have the boy brought
up before the Court on a habeas corpus for the purpose of having
the indentures cancelled, so that the child may be either given up
to his mother or placed under the care of a suitable master."

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 67

It was shown that tliis man Sloby had used a number of chil-
dren in the same manner.

This was only one of a number of cases that were discovered
by the Guardians, but they frequentl}' had the master or mistress
punished when it was shown that the children had been abused.

An association for the care of colored orphans, founded by
some Quaker ladies, made a proposition to the Guardians to take
the colored orphans under eight years of age from the Almshouse ;
to " furnish them with comfortable lodging, suitable clothing,
cheap and wholesome food, and to train them in habits of industry;
likewise to instruct them in school training and to give careful
attention to their personal conduct and mental improvement, if
fifty cents a week were paid to the association for each child." The
orphans were to be kept in reach of the Guardians, and were not to
be bound out without the consent of the Board. The proposition
was accepted, and the children were better cared for than the}'
would have been in the Almshouse.

The building on south Fifth Street near Carpenter, which had
been rented for some time for a childrens' asj-lum was purchased
by the Guardians from Mr. Thomas J. Wharton in November,
1822 ; it was intended to make it a permanent home, but the idea
was subsequentl}^ changed.

A committee, appointed to consider complaints of citizens
regarding the manner of burying the dead, made the following
startling report : " The manner of depositing the coffins and leav-
ing them slightl}- covered for a length of time is very improper and
very offensive, and it is not at all surprising that the residents in
the neighborhood have expressed their disapprobation of the pro-
ceedings on that ground.

" It is the custom to dig a number of pits, say about seven
feet by four, at the opening, and nine feet in depth. These pits
are wide enough to admit of laying two coffins in the bottom,
which the}' cover with about two inches of dirt, until two more
coffins arrive, which they place on top of those already there, when
the}^ fill the pit up. But it will be recollected that it takes a con-
siderable time to get a stifficient number to fill a pit, /;/ couscqiioicc

68 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

of the many visitors to carry off tlie corpses left there for interment.
It is from three to five weeks before they can cover these pits,
which certainly makes it very offensive to have all the corpses for
that length of time nearly exposed to the open air. Yonr commit-
tee are of opinion that the mode of burying ought to be altered,
and that each corpse should be put in a separate and distinct grave
of a good and sufficient depth, and that persons who are desirous
of having corpses ought to have some trouble to obtain them,
instead of having them placed above ground and inviting persons
to carry them away to save the trouble of burying them." The
same committee made another report at a subsequent meeting, in
which was stated : " We visited the ground on the i8th inst. A
coffin had arrived which was said to contain the corpse of a colored
boy. There were two pits open, one said to contain three bodies
and the other empty. The men said the\' were waiting for another
corpse, and then they intended to close the one pit up. The com-
mittee ordered that the corpse that was in the yard should be
placed in the empt}^ pit, and that then both pits should be filled
up. This was done, but not until an examination was made of the
three coffins that were in the pit, and it was found that one of them
was empty.

" Your committee are of opinion that the persons who attend at
the graveyard have the whole charge of the same, and make such
arrangements with the doctors as they please^ and are not accounta-
ble to any body."

The steward was censured for not carrying out the rules, but
the bodies were still to be had " through arrangements made with
the doctors."

The Board of Guardians authorized the erection of an addi-
tion to the west wing, for the accommodation of the sick and dis-
abled. The large increase in the census of the House demanded
more room, yet the Board seemed to be adding on a little here and
some there, to get along economically, so that the institution looked
anything but handsome, and began to be considered an eye sore to
the neighborhood.

The question of what was the proper thing to do with bad

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals, 69

boys and girls was one that caused serious consideration at this
period.

A committee of the '* Society for Alleviating the Miseries of
Prisons " had a conference with a committee of the Guardians of
the Poor, in 1823, to discuss the evils that resulted from the im-
prisonment of boys and girls among hardened criminals. The
result of the conference was the following suggestions :

''/v'r^/ — That a suitable place should be provided b}^ the Guar-
dians of the Poor for the reception of all minors who are taken up
b}'^ the watchmen, others strolling about the streets, and some
without homes, all of whom are now committed to the count}'
prison, among the untried prisoners, who are charged with murder,
arson, grand larceny and other crimes. By this system of impris-
onment the minors become inured to vice in its most formidable
shape. The place to be provided should be sufficiently strong for
their safe keeping, until the}^ can be bound out as apprentices to
some persons residing at some distance from the city.

" Second — If any of the minors confined as thus suggested
should become refractor^' that measures be adopted for placing
them in solitar\^ confinement.

"77//;y/ — That the Mayor and Aldermen be requested to refrain
from committing such minors to the count}' prison and send them
direct to the Almshouse, and also to request the Legislature to
prevent the imprisonment of minors for misdemeanors."

The Guardians prepared a bill in accordance with these sug-
gestions, and it was sent to the Legislature to secure the proposed
reform. From the discussions upon this subject the establishment
of the House of Refuge, an institution that has accomplished
much good and reflected credit upon the city, was the ultimate
result.

Another very serious question to be considered was the method
by which the outdoor relief was distributed. The amount of mone}"
expended for that purpose had become so large that, after much
discussion, a committee was appointed, in October, 1824, to " take
the whole subject into consideration, and to inquire whether any
plan could be devised to check that prolific source of pauperism."

70 History of Philadelphia Alnishonses and Hospitals.

The committee submitted an interesting report, in whicli it
stated : " The average population of the City of Philadelphia and
the districts included in this poor corporation, from the year
1800 to iSio, was 80,298. The amount of taxes for the same
period was $773,000, being $77,300 a year, and 96^ cents per annum
for each inhabitant. In the same districts the average population
from 1 810 to 1820 was 102,906. The amount of taxes for the
same period was $1,118,000, being $111,800 per annum, and $1.08^
per annum for each inhabitant; this being an increase of poor tax,
over and above the increase of population of 12^4 cents per annum.
From 1815 to 1819, the average cost of supporting each pauper in
the Almshouse was $1.24; from 1820 to 1S24 this average was re-
duced to "py!^ cents, while the great increase of the expenditures
for out-door relief caused the poor tax to be much higher than it
ever was before."

The committee believed that the s\'stem of out-door relief was
so much abused, and had such an injurious tendency, that it ought
to be abolished.

Resolutions were passed to " prevent unworthy persons from
subsisting at the public expense," but it took a number of 3^ears
to change the system entirely.

The Guardians had been ver}' generous in their expenditures
for relief, if it cost, as the report stated, $1.08^ per annum for
each inhabitant of the district. If we consider the population of
the city at the present time, say 1,300,000, and appropriated $1.08^
per annum for each inhabitant, it would amount to $1,410,500,
which is about three times as much as was expended in any of the
years of the last decade.

CHAPTER VI.

SMALL POX HOSPITAL AT BUSH HH^L— ACT TO REMOVE THE AL:MS-

HOUSE.

THE Guardians adopted the following preamble and resolu-
tion at their meeting in Januar3^ 1826 :
'' Whereas, It has been represented to this Board that
Elizabeth Helm, widow of Peter Helm, deceased, is in
necessitous circumstances, and believing that it would add to the
comfort and happiness of said Elizabeth Helm to be placed in the
' Asylum for Indigent Widows and Single Women ; ' and, in con-
sideration of the patriotic and disinterested services rendered by
the said Peter Helm, during the prevalence of an epidemic dis-
ease in the year 1793, as set forth in a certificate of thanks to
himself and others, presented at a meeting of the citizens of
Philadelphia, at the City Hall, on the 28th daj^ of March, 1794,
and signed by Governor AIcKean ; therefore, be it

'''Rcso/z'ed^ That the President of this Board be directed to
make application to the managers of the Asylum referred to above
for the admission of Elizabeth Helm, as soon as an opening may
present itself, and that he be authorized to expend such sum of
mone}^ as may be requisite to place her there in a situation to
render her comfortable during the remainder of her life."

The resolutions were carried out, and the action of the Board
was very praiseworthy and reflected much credit on the members.
Peter Helm was the noble Moravian who volunteered his services,
in connection with Stephen Girard, to take charge of the Bush Hill
hospital, and to nurse the poor, afflicted yellow fever patients dur-
ing the terrible times when the people were panic stricken, and all
who were able fled from the cit3\ Those two heroes remained, and
the}^ were justly entitled to be held in grateful remembrance.

The first practical movement looking to a decided improve-
ment in the location of the Almshouse was made on May 24th,
1826, when Mr. Joseph M. Truman offered the following preamble

with resolutions :

72 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

" Whereas, It is the prevailing opinion of many valuable
citizens that the present location of the Almshouse and House of'
Employment has become a matter of deep interest, and it is be-
lieved to be materially injurious to private property within its
immediate vicinity, and also very deficient in the necessary requi-
sites for which it was originally intended, and. believing that the
location of the Almshouse and House of Employment ought to be
on a farm, at a convenient distance from the city, and that the hos-
pital department ought to be in a different location, within as short
a distance as circumstances would admit ; therefore be it Resolved,
etc."

The resolution provided for the appointment of a committee to
devise a plan for locating the institution on a farm, with power to
advertise for proposals for ground, not exceeding one hundred and
fifty acres, not less than one and a half miles from Broad and Mar-
ket Streets ; also for a lot, not less than five nor more than ten
acres, to be located where the Board of Ph3^sicians, in conjunction
with the committee, might think it most advisable. The committee
to be authorized to employ an architect, at an expense not to exceed
two hundred dollars, to draw the plans and make estimates of the
probable expense. If the plans, etc., were adopted, application was
to be made to Council and the districts for permission to proceed
with the purchase of the grounds and the erection of the btiildings.

The Board was not ready to take such action at that time ; the
resolution was laid on the table ; was called up and postponed at
several subsequent meetings, and was finally allowed to slumber.
But the seed had been sown, and the results were seen in a short
time.

In March of the following year the managers of the House
sent a communication to the General Board, calling attention to
the crowded condition of the institution and the great inconveni-
ence and unsanitary situation of the sick wards, and recommending
the erection of an additional building. A special committee was
appointed to consider the subject, and the report made favored the
recommendation of the managers.

The necessity of greater accommodations was acknowledged,

History of Philadeljjliia Almshouses and Hospitals. 78

but the Board feared to take the necessar\^ steps to secure them ; it
was a question of money, with the problem of how to get it to
solve. A committee was appointed to visit the principal cities, to
compare their systems of relief with that of Philadelphia, and it
was discovered that it cost much more here than it did in any city
in the country. The report of that committee brought the whole
subject before the public and led to considerable discussion. It was
well known that the Almshouse was entirely too small for its pur-
pose, yet the fear of an enormous increase in expenditures was
alwaj^s prevalent and prevented the taking of proper measures to
secure the necessar}' accommodations, JMr. Truman's project was
looked upon as chimerical, as it w^as thought to mean an immense
increase of taxation.

At this time considerable interest was caused by a fugitive
slave case that had been brought to the attention of the Guardians
of the Poor.

The committee appointed to investigate the subject made
report stating the facts, which show that " The slave Nat or Na-
thaniel, who is now in the Arch street prison, ran awa}' from his
master and came to this cit}' about tw^o j^ears since. Shortly after
his arrival he became acquainted wuth a young colored girl and
•entered into an engagement to marr}^ her ; but from some cause or
other they never were united in marriage, although they had a
child in i\pril last. In the month of August Nat was taken up as
a runaway slave and carried before Judge Peters, who, after a hear-
ing, granted an order of removal.

" On the same da}^ Nat was committed by the agent of his
master to the Arch street prison for safe keeping. Shortly after
his incarceration, an application was made by the mother of the
child to Alderman Badger, to arrest him for the purpose of com-
pelling him to support the child, and under this writ he is now
detained bj' the sheriff. In addition to this, it will be remembered
that the mother, since the apprehension and confinement of the
runawa}^, has made application to this Board, through one of its
members, for the support of her child, and that a letter had been
received b}^ the said member from the United States District Attor-

74 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

ney, threatening liim with the penalties of the law for hindering-
the master from getting possession of his slave. Yonr committee
are of opinion that the Board ought not to take any part or inter-
est in the controversy. In this instance, the fact that the child
was not sworn to until it was at least four months old, and not
until the father was arrested as a fugitive slave, has satisfied your
committee that the real object of the application to this Board is to
induce an interference between the master and his slave, and not
for the support of the child."

The Board refused to take any action in the matter, and left
Nathaniel to the mercy of the court and his master. It seemed to
be a very complicated affair, and the action of the Guardians was
watched with a good deal of interest.

In the fall of 1827 the city hospital, generally known as the
''Small Pox Hospital," was completed, and a number of patients
was sent to it from the Almshouse during the winter. It was
located on Bush hill, upon grounds which are now v.'ithin the
limits of the Fifteenth Ward. This hospital was considered as one
of the best adapted for the care of contagious diseases in the coun-
try. It, was torn down shortly after the consolidation of the city
and districts in 1854.

The question of the removal of the Almshouse was again
under discussion in 1828. All kinds of arguments were used on
both sides. The main opposition was simply on the grounds of
expense, but there was a number of influential men who believed
that what is worth doing should be done right. They were opposed
to the piecemeal methods of patching up continually to make
things stretch out for the time being. If a change was necessary
— and that was acknowledged — they favored the erection of build-
ings that would be a credit to the cit}^ and would furnish sufficient
accommodations for the poor for many years. They approved of
Mr. Truman's idea of buying a farm, and it has been stated that
some of the Guardians determined, while -the discussion was going
on, to buy the ground at their own expense and risk, trusting to
the intelligence and liberality of the city to re-imburse them.

They at length concluded to apply to the Legislature to

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 75

obtain tlie necessary anthority for the selling of the old buildings,
the purchase of ground and the erection of a new Almshouse and
House of Eniplo\anent. In compliance with their request an Act
was passed March 5, 1828, and as that was the law under which
the present Almshouse was erected, some of the sections are quoted
entire, so as to give the principal features.

The first section of the Act provided: '"That the Select and
Common Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Commissioners
of the incorporated district of the Northern Liberties, the Commis-
sioners of the district of Southwark, the Commissioners of Spring
Garden, choosing for the township of Penn, and the Commissioners
of the Kensington district, choosing for the said district, and the
unincorporated part of the Northern Liberties, shall meet on the
third IVIonday of May next, each body in its own usual place of
meeting at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, or as soon thereafter as ma}^
be, and shall elect and choose as follows, that is to say : The said
Select and Common Councils, by joint vote, shall elect six respect-
able citizens, inhabitants of the cit}- ; the Commissioners of the
incorporated district of the Northern Liberties shall elect two
respectable citizens, inhabitants of said district ; the Commissioners
of the district of Southwark shall elect two respectable citizens,
inhabitants of said district ; the Commissioners of Spring Garden
shall elect one respectable citizen, an inhabitant of Penn township ;
and the Commissioners of the Kensington district shall elect one
respectable citizen, an inhabitant of said district, or of the unincor-
porated part of the Northern Liberties, to the Guardians of the
Poor of the said city, districts and townships."

The Act provided for the organization of the Board, etc., and
it was incorporated by the title of the " Guardians for the Relief and
Employment of the Poor of the City of Philadelphia, the District
of Southwark and the Townships of the Northern Liberties and
Penn."

Twelve persons were to be elected, to be called the " Directors
of the Poor Tax." It was their duty to meet at the Almshouse or
such other place as might be designated by the Guardians of the
Poor, and it was the duty of the Guardians of the Poor to make

7(3 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

and exhibit to the said Directors estimates of the probable amount
of money that would be required for the relief of the poor for the
3^ear, and the Directors were instructed to make an assessment, not
exceeding fifty cents on the hundred dollars, at any one time, upon
the value of all the real and personal estate within the said dis-
tricts and townships respectively, and not more than one dollar per
head on ever}' freeman in any fift3^-cent tax, and so in proportion
for every less rate on the county assessment, for the purpose of
defraying the expenses of the Guardians of the Poor.

The Directors, in laying the rates as aforesaid, were to be
guided by the county assessment made, or to be made, having due
regard to every man's estate within the district. The rates were
entered in a book and signed b}^ the Directors. The book was
delivered to the Guardians of the Poor and a return made to the
respective districts, showing the amount of money required and
the assessments made. The Guardians of the Poor were author-
ized to emplo}^ collectors.

'' Section 9. — Immediately after the election of Guardians
of the Poor, on the third Monday of Ma}^ next, as directed by
the first Section of this Act, the Select and Common Councils
of the City of Philadelphia, and the Commissioners of the respec-
tive districts, as aforesaid, shall elect twelve respectable citi-
zens within the bounds of their respective jurisdictions, who shall
be styled the ' Commissioners for the erection of buildings for the
accommodation of the poor.' The Select and Common Councils
shall elect six, the Commissioners for the incorporated district of
the Northern Liberties shall elect two, the Commissioners of South-
wark shall elect two, and the Commissioners of Spring Garden and
the Commissioners of the Kensington districts shall each elect one,
and the said electing bodies shall, by their respective clerks, give
notice in writing, to each of the persons so chosen, within two days
thereafter, and the said ' Commissioners ' shall meet at the Alms-
house on the fourth Monday of May next, at 3 o'clock in the after-
noon, and respectively take an oath or affirmation, to be adminis-
tered by any Alderman of the City, or Justice of the Peace of the
County of Philadelphia, faithfulh' to discharge the office of ' Com-

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 77

missioner for erecting buildings for the accommodation of the poor,'
and to perform all the duties required by this act, truly and faith-
fully, to the best of his knowledge and abilities, and the said Com-
missioners shall there form a Board and appoint one of their own
body President, to preside over their deliberations, and may from
time to time make such rules and regulations for their government
and the business and duties of the said Commissioners as they may
think proper and necessary."

" Section io. It shall be the duty of said Commissioners, hav-
ing first obtained the approbation of the said Board of Guardians,
to purchase a suitable site, not exceeding two miles from Market
and Broad streets, the title whereof shall be vested in said corpora-
tion, for the erection of buildings suitable for an Hospital, Alms-
house, House of Employment, and Childrens' Asylum, and to
cause, as soon as practicable, the necessary buildings to be erected
and constructed, upon such plan or plans as a majority of said
Commissioners may think proper for the purpose contemplated ;
such plan or plans having been first submitted and approved by
the said Board of Guardians, having due regard to the full and
comfortable provision for all such poor persons as may require
medical or surgical aid ; and, also for such as may be unable,
through age or other infirmities, to procure subsistence ; and for
the employment of all those who ma}^ be able to work ; and also
for the health, convenience and instruction of the children ; to
make all necessary contracts for material, &c., and, in the case of
the death or resignation of an}- of the said Commissioners before
the completion of their trusts, the electing bodies, within whose
jurisdiction the vacanc}- may occur, shall fill the same, on notice
thereof, in manner aforesaid, and each of the said electing bodies
shall have power, from time to time, and at all times, to remove
any of the said Commissioners appointed by such bod}^ and to
appoint another person or persons to fill the vacancy or vacan-
cies thus occasioned. Provided, that should the Board of Guard-
ians deem it necessary for the better accommodation of the sick,
the said Commissioners are hereby authorized to purchase a site
and erect an Hospital at some convenient place within the limits

78 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

of Philadelphia, to the eastward of Eighth street from the river
Schuylkill.''

'' Section ii. In order to carr}^ the objects and provisions of
the law into complete effect, it shall and may be lawful, and said
Gaardians of the Poor are hereby authorized and invested with
full power to negotiate and contract for and upon the faith of the
said corporation of the Guardians of the Poor, any loan or lo?ns,
from time to time, according to their discretion, not exceeding two
hundred and fifty thousand dollars, upon the best terms and lowest
rate of interest, payable half yearly ; and the said corporation of
Guardians of the Poor shall receive the amount of said loans,
and are hereby authorized and required to issue certificates of
stock, duly attested b}^ the President and Secretary' of the Board
of Guardians, under the corporate seal, for any sum or sums not
less than one hundred dollars each, as may from time to time be
necessar}', in pursuance of the contract for such loans, which certi-
ficates shall be transferable on the books of the said corporation,
in the same manner as the certificates of loans made to the corpora-
tion of the City of Philadelphia are transferable ; and it shall be the
dut}^ of the said Guardians to keep regular transfer books, and to
adopt such proceedings, from time to time, in relation to such trans-
fers as may be deemed advisable ; which loans as aforesaid, to be
made, and the premiums, if any thereon, shall exclusively be
appropriated to the purchase of the site and the erection of the
huildings, as aforesaid, and for no other purpose whatsoever ;
and the money arising therefrom shall be deposited in bank,
in the name of the corporation of the Guardians of the Poor, and
may, from time to time, be drawn out by checks signed by the
President and at least two other members of the Board ; and
attested by the Secretary, and paid over to said Commissioners
for the purposes aforesaid, who shall keep regular accounts of
all monies received and expended by them, and shall render such
accounts, and produce their vouchers quarterl}^ to the Guardians of
the Poor."

" Section 12 authorized the Guardians of the Poor to sell the
old Almshouse and lots and the proceeds of the property- was

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 70

appropriated towards the purchase of the site and the erection of
the buildings." ^

In compliance with the act, tlie following named gentlemen
were elected as " Guardians of the Poor :"

By the Select and Common Councils — Messrs. Thomas P.
Cope, Abraham L. Pennock, IMatthew L. Bevan, Thomas Rogers,
Thomas Earp and John Hemphill.

B}' the District of Southwark — Messrs. Jesse R. Burden and
John Keefe.

By the Northern Liberties — Messrs. John Kessler, Jr., and
William Binder.

By the Kensington District — Mr. Michael Day.

By Penn Township — Mr. James S. Spencer.

The Board was organized by the election of Mr Thomas P.
Cope as President, Mr. Geo. He}^ as Secretary and Mr. Abraham
L. Pennock as Treasurer. John M. Scott, Esq., was elected as
Solicitor for the corporation.

Agreeabl}' to the act the following named were elected " Com-
missioners for erecting buildings for the accommodation of the
Poor : "

By the Select and Common Councils — Messrs. John Moore,
Elkanah Keyser, William Boyd, Nathan Bunker, Charles Johnston,
and Isaac Reach.

By the Northern Liberties — Alessrs. George N. Baker, and
James A. ]\Iahany,

By the District of Southwark — Alessrs. William McGlensey
and Thomas D. Grover.

By Spring Garden or Penn Township, Mr. John ]\I. Ogden.

B}'- Kensington — Mr. George Wilson.

The Board organized b}^ the election of Mr. William Boyd as
President, and the appointment of Mr. George N. Baker as Secre-
tary/>/'c> /<-•;;/.

On June 2d, 1S2S, Messrs. Boyd, Keyser, Baker, Ogden,
Wilson and IMcGlensey were appointed as a " committee to inquire
and seek an eligible situation suitable for the erection of buildings
for the accommodation and emplo3-ment of the poor, under the

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

Act of Assembly, by advertising or otherwise, and report to the
Board "

Bids were advertised for, and on July i8th the Board met and
" proceeded to view and examine the different lots of ground which
had been proposed by the owners to sell, agreeably to the following
schedule."

Jeremiah Warden .... 30

William Parker 45

John Gardiner, Jr. ... 27

James Sharwood .... 27

George Harrison .... 30

Lewis Reineck 22

John Lambert 29

John Evans 10

J. C. Fisher 21

Caleb Griffith 32

Henry Pratt 82

Henry J. Williams ... 10

Henry J. Williams . . • 15

N. Nathans 49

Michael Pray 31

Simon Gratz 71

Samuel Keith 18

T. Mitchell 24

T. Mitchell 25

Thomas Lieper, executor ;i^

David Woelper 27

John Lambert 35

Geo. F. Randolph ... 42

vSamuel Keith 10

N. E. Thomas 10

Joseph Jouett 12

T. Caniac ....
H. Nixon
Hamilton Estate

158

LOCATION.

N. W. from Center Sq., op. H. Pratt's seat
Ridge Road, adj'g lands of H. Dixon . .
On 5th St. Road, S E. from Center Sq. .
N. W. from Dr. Turner's Lane ....

Adjoining to Penitentiary

On I/Ong Lane Neck

Turner's Lane, adjoining Sharwood's . .

Stamper's Lane

Adj'g H. Pratt's and Schuylkill River .

Islington Lane

W. of Schuylkill, near Hamilton\ille . .
Francis' Lane, E. Penitentiary . . .

South Penitentiary

Falls of Schuylkill Road

Inter. Turner's Lane

Broad Street

Ridge Road, near Turner's Lane ....
Adjoining U. vS. Marine Hospital ....

South Side U. S. Arsenal

Neck Land, Passyunk Township ....

North Side Turner's Lane

Ridge Road and Turner's Lane

North end Broad Street

Germantown Road

Adjoining above

Francisvilleand Ridge Road

Camac Street, near Broad Street ....

Ridge Road

Adj'g Woodlands, W. of Schuylkill River

$12,500

37,500.

11,000.

12,500,

600

300

iS,ooo

10,000

25,000

12,000

250

1,000

3,000

300

10,000,

10,000.

5,000,

35.0CO,

25,000.

200

12,000.

27,500,

30,000,

1,500

2,000

9,500.

1,000

25,000,

300

per acre,
per acre.

per acre,
per acre,
per acre,
per acre.

per acre.

per acre,
per acre.

per acre.

After visiting the grounds offered, the Commissioners selected
the piece belonging to the Hamilton Estate, and with the approval
of the Guardians of the Poor it was purchased for the sum of two
hundred and seventy five dollars per acre.

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 81

This ground possessed many advantages — plent}^ of fresh air
and excellent facilities for drainage.

The deed conveying the property reads :

" This Ixdp:xture,

Made the first day of January in the year ot our Lord one thous-
and eight hundred and twent}^ nine, between Henry Beckett of
the city of Philadelphia merchant and Mary his wife of the one
part and the Guardians for the Relief and Emplo^mient of the
Poor of the City of Philadelphia the District of Southwark and
the Townships of the Northern Liberties and Penn witnesseth that
the said Henry Beckett and Mary his wife for and in consideration
of the sum of Fifty one thousand five hundred and twenty eight
dollars twelve and-a half cents lawful money to them in hand paid
by the said Guardians for the Relief and Employment of the Poor
of the city of Philadelphia the District of Southwark and the
Townships of Northern Liberties and Penn at the time of the exe-
cution hereof the receipt whereof is hereb}^ acknowledged have
granted bargained sold released and confirmed and by these presents
do grant bargain sell release and confirm unto the said Guardians
for the Relief and Employment of the Poor of the City of Phila-
delphia the District of Southwark and the Townships of the
Northern Liberties and Penn their successors and assigns all that
certain Tract Plantation and parcel of land situate on the west side
of the River Schuylkill in the Township of Blockley and County
of Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania Being part of a
certain larger tract of land known by the name of the Wood-
lands bounded and described agreeably to a resurvey thereof
lately made by Enock Lewis, Esquire as follows Beginning at a
Post on the margin of the River Schuylkill at low water mark in
the mouth of a small creek and at the corner of land belonging to
John Hare Powell and Edward S. Burd Esquire thence up the
creek by the land of the said Powell and Burd north thirty six
and two thirds of a degree West nineteen perches and one sixteenth
of a perch to a post North fifty three degrees west twenty three
perches to a post, thence leaving the creek but still along the line

82 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

of Powell and Burd's land north forty-nine and a half degrees,
west one hundred and eight perches to a post on the southern side
of the Darby road, south sixty-two degrees and a quarter west, one
hundred and three perches and a quarter of a perch, to a corner of
Thomas Fleming's land ; thence by the said Fleming's land south
twenty six degrees east, seventy nine perches and four tenths to a
post in a small stream of water ; thence south ten degrees west
twenty one perches and five tenths of a perch to a post ; thence
south one quarter of a degree east, fifty one perches and seven
tenths of a perch to the low water mark of the River Schuylkill ;
and thence up the said river, by the several meanders thereof, two
hundred and sixty two perches, more or less, to the place of begin-
ning, containing one hundred and eighty seven acres and sixty
perches of land ; being the same tract of land and premises which
Jacob Strembeck Esquire, High Sheriff of the City and County of
Philadelphia, by Deed Roll stated the eighth day of December last
past granted and conveyed to the said Henry Beckett in fee seized
and sold by virtue of legal proceedings issued out of the District
Court for the City and County of Philadelphia as the property of
William Hamilton, Esquire, deceased, at the suit of Margaret
Hamilton as in and by the said recited Deed Roll duly acknowl-
edged and entered among the records of the said Court in Book E
page 231 ; and will more fully appear together with all and singu-
lar the buildings, improvements marsh cripple landings landing
places ways waters water courses rights liberties privileges here-
ditaments and appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging or in
any wise appertaining ; and the reversions remainders rents
issues and profits thereof, and all the estate right title interest
property claim and demand whatsover of him the said Henry
Beckett and Mary his wife as well at law as in equity of into
and out of the same to have and to hold the said Plantation Tract
and parcel of land hereditaments and premises hereby granted or
mentioned and intended so to be with the appurtenances unto the
said the Guardians for the Relief and Employment of the Poor of
the City of Philadelphia the District of Southwark and the Town-
ships of the Northern Liberties and Penn aforesaid, their sue-

History of Philadelpliia Almshouses and Hospitals. 88

cessors and assigns forever ; and the said Henry Beckett for him-
self, his heirs, executors, and administrators doth hereby covenant
promise and agree to and with the said the Guardians for the
Relief and Emplo3'ment of the Poor of the City of Philadelphia
the District of Southwark and the Townships of Northern Liber-
ties and Penn, their successors and assigns in manner following : to
say that he the said Henry Beckett and his heirs, all and singular,
the hereditaments and premises hereby granted or mentioned and
intended so to bsi with the appurtenances unto the said the Guar-
dians for the Relief and Employment of the Poor of the Cit}- of
Philadelphia the. District of Southwark and the Townships of the
Northern Liberties and Penn their successors and assigns against
him, the said Henry Beckett, and his heirs, and against all and
every other person and persons whatsoever lawfully claiming or to
claim b}' from or under him them or any of them shall and will
warrant and forever defend b}^ these presents.

" In witness whereof the said Henry Beckett and his wife have
hereunto set their respective hands and seals dated the day and
year first above written.

" Sealed and delivered in 1

the presence of I Hexry Beckett, [l. vS.]

" G. Bartram, I Mary Beckett, [l. s.]

" A. W. Johnston." J

CHAPTER VII.

PLANS FOR BUILDING NEW ALMSHOUSE— HOUSE OF REFUGE OPENED.

ON September 8th, 1828 the Commissioners were informed
of the death of J. A. Mahany, Esq., one of their mem-
bers. Daniel Groves, Esq., was subsequently elected to
fill the vacanc3^
The Guardians appointed Messrs. Thomas P. Cope, Thomas
Rogers, Dr. Burden, Thomas Earp, and John Kessler as a commit-
tee to confer with Isaac Roach, Thomas D. Grover, E. W. Keyser,
Daniel Groves and Charles Johnston, the Committee of the Com-
missioners as to the plans for the erection of the buildings, &c.

At the meeting of Commissioners, on October 6th, 1828, the
committee appointed to confer with the Guardians submitted the
following report :

"That in joint meeting the committees from the two Boards
proceeded to obtain a census of the inmates of the Almshouse and
Children's Asylum and the number of the out door poor to whom
relief is at present afforded and from a careful examination of the
contemplated system of employing the poor, they are of opinion
that the following buildings will be required to be erected on the
site of ground west of Schuylkill, say,

Almshouse Proper.
" This building should be calculated to accommodate about
1250 paupers, and in the construction of it a complete separation
of the sexes should be kept in view and a proper classification of
the inmates ; provision to be made for 80 married persons, also for
the Steward's and Matron's families, students, clerks and other
officers, rooms for the Guardians to meet in and offices for transact-
ing the business of the institution, kitchen for the paupers, &c.

" House of Employment.

" To be constructed with suitable apartments for workshops,
etc., and for lodging about 500 persons in separate rooms. In this

History of Philadelpliia Almshouses and Hospitals. 85

house the sexes must be kept separate, so as not to have opportunity
of communicatiug with each other ; the whole of this establish-
ment to be enclosed with a wall sufficiently high to prevent escape,
and to take in space for large yard, kitchen, refectory, etc.

'' Hospital.

" This building to be large enough to contain 6co patients,
including lunatics, and to be divided into suitable apartments for
the different descriptions of diseases ; to have a lecture room suffi-
cient to hold 500 students, an apothecary shop, a large room for
storing drugs, a librar}' room and a room for a laboratory (fire-
proof), a dead room and another for post-mortem examinations, etc.
Special attention must be given to have every room in the hospital
properly ventilated, one fireplace in each room, but the different
aoartments to be warmed with heated air as far as practicable, the
sexes to be kept entirely separated ; 100 cells to be constructed for
the insane, and suitable rooms for the cell-keepers and assistants ;
the whole to be enclosed with a high wall or fence to prevent
escape ; kitchen, refectory, etc.

" Children's Asylum.

"This building to accommodate 400 children, with apartments
for the matron and assistants, school-room, infirmary, etc., the
sexes to be kept separated ; large yards to be enclosed for the use
of the children, kitchen, refectory, etc.

" A building for storehouse or some accommodations in one of
the buildings for that purpose.

" Some one of these buildings to contain a commodious apart-
ment or place for public worship."

William Dougherty was emploj^ed to open and examine the
quarries on the nev\- grounds, and report was made that " much
valuable stone for the contemplated buildings will be obtained."

Plans for the buildings were advertised for October 23d, 1S28,
and a premium of three hundred dollars was offered for the " most
approved plan of buildings, accompanied with estimates.

November 10th, 1S28. The committee recommended the con-
struction of a wharf opposite the termination of South street, and

86 History of Philadelphia Almsliou'^es and Hospitals.

the Board resolved " that a wharf or landing, together with a road
leading from the fast land thereto, be constructed as soon as prac-
ticable, and that the south line thereof be upon a line and in the
direction of the north side of South street, extending into the river
until it affords a depth of five feet at low water. The front to be
sixty feet extending northward, and from there on the north side
to the shore, at right angle with the front thereof."

The wharf was erected b}^ ]\Ir. Thomas D. Grover for the
sum of three thousand six hundred and seventy dollars.

Plans and estimates were received from Messrs. William
Strickland, George Sennef and J. Haviland. Due consideration
was given them, and at the meeting held on March 6th, 1829, ^^^
following resolution, offered by Mr. George N. Baker, was adopted :

'''Resolved^ That the plan submitted by William Strickland, as
to its form and general outlines, is such as to merit the approba-
tion of the Board of Commissioners, and that such part or parts
thereof ma}- be altered or dispensed with as circumstances may
require, and that the concurrence of the Board of Guardians be
requested thereto."

The Guardians, '' after deliberating for some hours on the
plans submitted for their consideration, came to the resolution to
appoint a committee consisting of Thomas Rogers, Thomas Earp
and A. L. Pennock, to confer with the commissioners on the
subject."

Sealed proposals for a five per cent, loan for $100,000 were
advertised for on December 8th, to be opened December 29th, 1828,
" the mone}^ to be applied towards the purchasing of grounds and
the erection of buildings." A lien upon the property purchased
and the buildings to be erected was given as security for the pa}'-
nient of principal and interest. Stephen Girard, Esq., offered to
take twent3^-five thousand dollars of the loan at par^ and Thomas
Phipps, one of the assignees of Harper & Gillingham, offered to
take four thousand dollars of it on the same terms. Both ofifers
were accepted.

In December, 1828, the Board of Guardians received notice
that the House of Refuge had been opened for the reception of

History of Philadelpliia Almshouses and Hospitals. 87

vagrant or delinquent juveniles. This information was a source
of congratulation, as it solved the very serious problem of what
was best to be done with that class of boys and girls.

The Committee of the Guardians appointed to confer with the
Commissioners presented the folloM'ing communication to that
body :

" A plan of a suite of buildings for the accommodation of the
poor " intended to illustrate some of the views entertained by the
members of the Board was submitted at the last meeting.

'' It is now resolved that our committee be directed to lay that
plan before the Commissioners, together with the following commu-
nication, which is directed to be signed by the President and attested
by the Secretar3\

" The Guardians hold in respectful consideration the attention
given by the Commissioners to the subject of buildings.

'" It is under these feelings they have appointed a committee
to confer with the Commissioners on the subject of the plans sub-
mitted b}' the latter, and to express the views which the Guardians
have in relation to that plan, among which are the following :

" ist. The Guardians are of opinion that if the several Build-
ings to be erected are to have distinct Superintendents, their being
grouped together as delineated in the Plan is not necessar}^, and so
far as the arrangement would preclude the extension of any of the
Buildings, or interfere with a suitable classification of the Inmates,
it would be inconvenient.

" 2d. But the Guardians are of opinion that a Judicious
administration of the public funds, independent of other considera-
tions of economj' , would not permit the emploj-ment of more than
one principal male and one principal female Superintendent.
"With this view it is important that all the females should be
brought as near as conveniently ma}^ be to the Matron, and in the
same manner all the males should be brought as near as possible
to the Steward. With the best possible arrangement the duty of
visitation will be arduous, but on the plan proposed it would be
doubl}^ so, from the manner in which the men and women are
alternatel}^ located, requiring the Matron to pass through ranges

88 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

of the buildings appropriated to the men and of the Steward a
similar passage through the apartments of the women, or other-
wise requiring them to pass considerable distances exposed to the
weather.

" 3d. The Physicians of the house form necessarily a part of
the Steward's family. The spaces they will have to traverse and
their exposure to the weather in passing to and from the Hospital
are important considerations, both as it regards them and the sub-
jects under their care.

" 4th. A separation of the sexes is of great consequence. In
our present establishment it is found impossible, and consequently
great inconveniences arise from their too free intercourse, and
therefore the Guardians are particularly solicitous of finding this
object fully attained in the Plan which shall ultimately be adopted.
Again, a proper classification of the different grades is scarcely of
less moment. The Guardians do not perceive that their objects
have claimed the due attention of the Architect, nor is it seen how
they can be readily accomplished with the plan submitted to them.

" 5th. The Guardians are of opinion that so far as it can be
obtained without too great an extension of the plot all long entries
or passages ought to be on the side of the buildings, in preference
to the middle, from the difficulty of preserving a pure atmosphere
in long middle passages. By putting the passages on the side,
Piazzas are rendered unnecessary, and more persons may bene-
ficially occupy a room of given dimensions on one side of such a
passage, owing to the purer atmosphere, than in a room of the
same size on one side of a middle passage.

" 6th. The Hospital and House of Employment, instead of
being contiguous, should be at remote points of the plot, that the
sick may not be annoyed by the noise of the latter establishment.

" The Guardians suggest that the whole basement story
should be above ground, with the exception of such apartments of
it as are intended for cooking, or for furnaces of any description.
These should be made fire-proof, and of course will have to be
depressed to leave room for arching.

" The plans which the Guardians have instructed the Com-

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 89

mittee to submit to the consideration of the Commissioners was
prepared and is presented to the latter for the purpose mereh' of
exhibiting some of the leading views which the Board entertains
in relation to the great object to be obtained. The minor details
of the plan have not as yet engaged the particular attention of the
Board."

The plans were referred to the Physicians, and they made the
following report, March 28, 1829 :

" The Committee of Physicians, to whom were referred several
Plans for a new Hospital, report that the}^ bestowed such attention
as the importance of the subject requires. Of these plans the one
proposed b}^ the Guardians comes the nearest to what the Com-
mittee conceive should be the interior arrangement of a Hospital ;
the others they are disposed to reject wholh^ as not applicable to the
case in view. The remarks which the}' make are therefore intended
for the plan of the Board of Guardians.

"The Committee think that the long entry or passage should
be abandoned, and the space thus alloted to be applied to
increase the size of the Wards. The Wards themselves should be
enlarged by leaving out many of the partitions marked in the
plan, as the present well-established experience in Europe is in
favor of very large rooms wherever there may be sick people. The
Committee also think that this plan would be much improved by a
Piazza along one side of the building, which will answer both for
communications between different parts of it and for exercise and
exposure to open air for convalescents.

" Maniacs should be accommodated in a v/ing and above
ground. The cellars should in every case be left untenanted,
except as offices, for cooking, washing and store-rooms, for their
unavoidable dampness in this climate is a radical objection on the
score of humanity to their being used as permanent abodes. There
are few animals, except the amphibious, which can bear constant
immersion in an atmosphere of that kind without great prejudice
to health.

'' The Committee are fully satisfied that the space marked
out on the plan will not accommodate more than 400, or at most 450

90 History of Philadelphia Alinshouses and Hospitals.

patients, and then they will be crowded and may generate pestilential
effluvia. The opinion is founded on the following calculations, which
may be applied to any number, great or small, of patients. Each
patient should have alloted to him a space of six by ten feet with
an elevation of twelve feet ; by applying this simple rule to the
plan it will produce the result stated, to wit : accommodations for
450 persons. But, in addition, some space must be conceded in
every ward to tables, chairs and water closets ; a very moderate
concession to such articles would be one-sixth of the whole ward.
The latter must therefore be enlarged or the number of the patients
reduced proportionately.

*' As the position of the new Hospital is yet to be determined
on, the Committee deem it a suitable time to state as their opinion,
and that of their colleagues, that the location of it out of town
would be detrimental to its service, and in the highest degree inju-
rious to the just reputation which Philadelphia enjoys for furnish-
ing the best and most copious means of medical instruction in the
United States.

" The Committee also believe that there are many important
pecuniary interests of the citizens which would be materially
injured by a measure curtailing the means of medical instruction,
and thereby putting other cities of less note and advantage upon
an equal footing with our own."

It will be seen that there was much diversity of opinion
regarding the plans of buildings, and there was considerable
thought given as to the advisability of erecting the Hospital on
grounds " east of Eighth Street from the Schuylkill."

CHAPTER VIII.

REPORT ON LOCATION OF NEW HOSPITAL.

THE Guardians appointed a special Committee to consider
the question of '' location of hospital," and the subject was
discussed thoroughly. After all parties interested had
been beard, and their remarks duly considered, the Com-
mittee submitted the following exhaustive report :

'' The Committee to whose consideration was referred the
important subject of the location of the Hospital for the poor, have
endeavored to give it the attention to which it is entitled, and they
submit as a result of their deliberations the following report :
' Pursuant to that portion of the Act of March, 1S28, which author-
ized the " Commissioners for erecting buildings for the accommo-
dation of the Poor," with the approbation of the Guardians of the
Poor first obtained, " to purchase a suitable site, not exceeding
two miles from Market and Broad Streets, for the erection of build-
ings suitable for an Hospital, Almshouse, House of Emplojanent
and Children's Asylum," the Board of Commissioners on a unani-
mous voce of its own members, and the similar concurrence of this
Board, purchased a tract of land on the western bank of the Schuyl-
kill river, opposite the cit}', containing 187 acres.

'' Of this tract about 60 acres are meadow or susceptible of
improvement as such : the residue is upland. On a ridge of the
upland is presented a position as favorable in ever}^ particular as
■could be reasonably desired for the site of buildings contemplated
to be erected, and, as respects salubrity, no situation more eligible
it is believed could have been obtained within the range allowed
b}' the law.

" But the above act provided ' That should the said Board of
Guardians deem it necessary for the better accommodation of the
sick, the said Commissioners are hereb\^ authorized to purchase a
site and erect an Hospital at some convenient place within the
limits of the Cit\' of Philadelphia to the eastward of Eighth street
from the Schu3dkill.'

92 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

" It therefore becomes the duty of the Board of Guardians to
determine whether it will be proper to locate the Hospital on the
site already provided for the buildings generally or on some lot
to be hereafter purchased, within the limits prescribed by the pro-
vision of the act.

"■ At the threshold of this inquiry we are met by the consider-
ation that a large additional expense will have to be incurred in
the provisions of a site within the city limits, should such a pur-
chase be resolved upon. This expense will not be confined to the
procuration merel}^ of a ground plot for the building but must
embrace the possession of ample grounds around it to insure a
pure atmosphere and free circulation of air. The lots appurten-
ant to our present establishment, with a sick population rarely
exceeding 400 persons, embrace one entire and one-half square of
our city plot. The Pennsylvania Hospital, which contains on an
average of 140 patients under medical treatment and 100 insane,
holds a space equivalent to three of our city squares, and the reten-
tion of grounds of this extent, unoccupied except by buildings for
the sick, is deemed by its Directors to be essential to the well
being and recovery of the objects of their caj-e.

" A Hospital for the poor of this corporation ought to be
adapted to the reception of at least 600 patients, that number hav-
ing been actually, though inconveniently, under charge of our
establishment at a former period. With the data above recited, it
would scarcely be deemed prudent to estimate a city square as being
sufficient for the purpose of this extended establishment. Your
committee certainly presume that no judicious person would ven-
ture to assert that it would be safe to enter into possession of less
than such a square for these objects ; or that a lot of such dimen-
sions, when surrounded by a compactly built cit}^, and having
within its circumscribed limits the exhalations of 600 sick per-
sons, would present as pure an atmosphere as that belonging to
the vicinity of a hospital located in the country.

" A-Ssuming, then, that a city square is the least quantity of
ground which it would be proper to apply to this object, the price of
sucli a square east of Eighth street from the Schuylkill, and at

History of Philadelpliia Alnishoiises and Hospitals. 93

the remote points of the city plot either north or south could not
be estimated at less than $50,000, while in the vicinity of High or
Chestnut streets it would probably amount to $100,000. Indeed,
most of the squares within the prescribed limits being practically
improved, it is doubtful whether a suitable site could, be obtained
for the average of the prices named.

" We ma}^ safely estimate the cost of the buildings for the
accommodation of the sick, either in the cit}^ or at the site west
of the Schu3-lkill, if built in an equally plain manner, as being
about the same, but the extra buildings required for the officers
and servants of the establishment, and nearly the whole expense
of a wall to surround the City Hospital would have to be charged
as an expense peculiar to the latter, the plan of the Almshouse
affording sufficient accommodation for all the attendants of the
hospital if connected with it, and requiring for its inclosure
either with or without the hospital about the same extent of
wall. The cost of the wall surrounding the present Almshouse
and Infirmar}^ was about $14,000, and a low estimate of the
expense of the additional accommodations would be $7,000.
Charging however for both these accounts $20,000, and adding
this sum to $75,000, an average of the estimated cost of the
site, it would make the extra first cost of the cit}^ establishment
^95,000.

" But it is not as regards the site merely that an enhanced
expenditure would attend such an establishment. Distinct male
and female Superintendents, an additional number of subalterns,
both officers and domestics and the waste of furnishing two estab-
lishments instead of one could not be estimated, it is confidently
believed, at less than $2500 per annum, and would probablv much
exceed that amount. This sum added to the interest of $95,000 at
5 per cent, would exhibit the extra annual expenditure of the city
location at $7,250.

'' If, however, it can be made to appear that the comfort and
recovery of the sick, which is the primary object of this institu-
tion, would be best promoted by establishing the Hospital within
the limits of the city, your committee would regard it as false

94 History of Philadelphia Aliiishouses and Hospitals.

economy to allow a difference of expenditnre, however consider-
able, to induce a decision adverse to these objects.

'' With this sentiment your committee have canvassed with great
attention an objection preferred against the site on the west side of
the Schuylkill, that a removal of the patients to that distance
would be attended with great injury, and in some cases would
prove fatal to them ; in support of which the instances of persons
brought to the present house, who have died on their passage to
it, and the probability of an augmented number in case the distance
is increased, has been urged. Your committee, however, believe
that could the facts be ascertained, many of the instances of per-
sons attempted to be removed in the last stages of existence, and
who have died on their way to the present infirmary, have resulted
out of the too great contiguity to the Almshouse, and that a greater
distance from it would have prompted an earlier removal or dis-
couraged the attempt and thus averted the distressing catastrophe.
It is very obvious that with the increased distance a more cautious
proceeding will be observed, and that patients not fit to be removed
will be provided for in the way contemplated by the law, by fur-
nishing them with every requisite comfort at their homes. Rarely
could the case exist in which it would be proper and safe for an
invalid to be removed to a city hospital, who could not be removed
with equal propriety and safety to the western site, the distance of
a few squares with an easy method of conveyance being very im-
material compared with the fatigue the patient experiences at each
end of the route — to wit : in descending to and entering the vehicle
and in being removed from it and conveyed into the infirmary.
These observations are made with reference to the probabilty of
such an improvement being made in the manner of conveying
the patients generally as will considerably mitigate all the incon-
veniences they at present sustain from the existing modes of con-
veyance. The ample provision made by the Pennsylvania Hospital
for the reception of cases of wounds and fractures within twent}^-
four hours after their recurrence has precluded such from being
brought to our house. This class of patients would therefore be
unaffected by any site adopted for the Hospital. The diseases of a

History of Philadelphia xA.lin.shou.ses and Hospitals. 05

considerable portion of our patients on admission to the house are
chronic. The conveyance of such cases, except in the last stages
of disease, involves no essential inconvenience. When acute cases
present they would obtain from the out-door physicians and visit-
ors that care which would also preclude difficulty. But supposing
the possible, yet improbable fact, that the patient might safely be
removed to an infirmary within the city limits who could not
without danger be removed to one west of the Schuylkill, your com-
mittee would suggest that in so rare a contingency accommodations
could be obtained for him as a pay patient at the Pennsylvania
Hospital, and that an expenditure of this kind, comparatively
trifling, would be far more judicious than that which would provide
a Hospital in the city for the few cases of this character which
would ever occur.

"It is probable that no location could be obtained, within the
city limits, to which the same objection of distance would not be
applied by some portion of the extensive district embraced by this
corporation ; and it ought to be borne in mind that as the city is
rapidly spreading on the eastern banks of the Schuylkill nothing
but the narrow stream will shortly separate the western establish-
ment from a dense population.

" Your committee would now call your attention to a portion
of the poor whose interests in this particular have not been brought
into view, and to whom the location west of Schuylkill will be
absolutely important. We allude to the inmates of the Almshouse,
comprising generally persons whose constitutions, from various
causes, have been much impaired, for which reason thc}^ are
dependent on the public bounty, and whose cases require frequent
medical aid. By the theory of our law we are to suppose that the
mass of persons obtaining regular aid will be found within the
walls of the Almshouse and this will be strictl}^ so after the neces-
sary buildings are erected, so that the law may go full}- into effect.
To separate the Hospital from these would be attended with incon-
veniences far more onerous and insuperable than would be produc-
tive of benefit to the poor without.

" We suggested in the commencement of this report that no

96 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals

position more salubrious could have been obtained within the range
allowed by the law than that purchased by the Commissioners.
This assertion was made on due consideration, and with the know-
ledge that an opinion had been advanced by respectable citizens
that this site would of necessity be unhealthy from its contiguity
to the Schuylkill. The winds ordinarily prevailing in summer and
autumn are, however, supposed to protect the western banks of all
rivers from these deleterious exhalations, which, wafted to their
eastern shores, are the source of disease, and popular observation
has confirmed this theory as regards the Schuylkill, or rather has
established the fact of the general healthiness of its western shores,
leaving it to science to form the theory.

" Seasons have indeed occurred of such general and severe
visitations that no place, however reputed for its health, has been
exempted from the approach of disease. If on these occasions the
country west of the Schuylkill was visited with sickness in common
with other districts reputed to be healthy much more did it abound
in that portion of the city in which the Hospital would be located
if built within the city limits.

" Of the general healthfulness of the west side of the Schuyl-
kill we have the evidence of respectable and observing persons long
resident in that section. Their testimou}^ we consider as superior
to all theory, and we have similar unequivocal testimony of the
salubrity of the particular site purchased by the Commissioners
from a family who were resident upon it for above fifteen years.

'' We now arrive at objections to the location of the Hospital
on the above site, of a character different from those which have
preceded, in not having relation to the interests of the poor, but to
other interests which it is supposed are entitled to attention in the
decision of this question. A Committee of the Board of Physicians
attached to this institution, in a report under date March 29, 1829,
represent it ' as their opinion, and that of their colleagues, that the
location of the Hospital out of town would be in the highest degree
injurious to the just reputation which Philadelphia enjoys for fur-
nishing the best and most copious means of medical instruction in
the United States,' adding as their ' belief that there are many

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 97

pecuniary interests of the citizens which would be materially affected
by a measure curtailing the means of medical instruction.' Sugges-
tions emanating from so respectable a source are entitled to pro-
found attention, and such your Committee have endeavored to
bestow upon them. In approaching the objection to the location
implied in the above report your Committee are free to acknowledge
that Public Hospitals ought to be tributary to the advancement of
medical science, subject to the reasonable qualification that the
benefit of the sick should be the primary^ the other the secondary
purpose of these institutions. On this principle the Infirmary of
the Almshouse has very properly contributed to the promotion of
medical science in the following particulars :

" ist. As a school for a limited number of resident students,
who, after a term of six months duty in that station, perform, dur-
ing a further tour of six months, the duty of physicians in the
House, subject to the supervision of the regular attending physi-
cians of the establishment.

" 2d. As furnishing to a number of non-resident students the
opportunity of witnessing the clinical or bedside practice of the
house, thus enabling them to acquire, by direct inspection and
observation, a practical knowledge of diseases, and, with the aid of
such remarks and directions as are suggested by the physician on
duty, an acquaintance with the most approved manner of examining
cases and applying the proper remedies.

" In the first of these particulars the Infirmary has been emi-
nently beneficial, by completing annuall}^ the medical education of
eight physicians, who, instead of entering into the professional
world with the theor}^ only of medicine and the feelings of novitiates
in practice, are enabled to commence their public career with all the
confidence and skill which constant and complicated practice during
a years' residence in the house maybe supposed to impart to them.

" We understand the objections of the Physicians to a removal
of that Hospital out of town, as applying in no respect to the first
of these propositions, only in a limited degree to the second, but
principally to the third of the series.

" Exhibitions of operative surgery which do not occur frequently
7

98 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

are always of that iiitersting cliaracter to the medical student that
we can scarcely believe that the difference of a few squares in the
location of the Hospital would present any obstacle to a young
man's attendance on these occasions. ^

" We shall therefore proceed to the third particular, in consider-
ing which the practice which, has obtained of bringing the sick into
the operating room and there lecturing on their diseases, though
not included in the limits of our proposition, must necessarily be
brought into view.

" By the views of the University and possibly of the Jefferson
College, a student, in order to graduate, is required to take a ticket
to attend the medical practice, either of the Pennsylvania Hospital
or Philadelphia Almshouse. One bundred and eighty-five tickets
were taken last year to attend the practice of this Infirmary and
one hundred and eighty-five appear to have been taken the present
year. On inquiry we find that the number who attend the regular
visitation of the sick duriug eight months of the year varies from
30 to 50, while during the period of lectures the most interesting
cases being brought into the lecture room, attendance in tke wards
is not usual. The number attending at the operating room during
this period is about 170 persons.

" The number of persons who can be really benefitted by
attending the practice of the house is litnited. It is even confined
to a much smaller number than do attend, for it is only those who
can approach the patients and observe by personal inspection and
observation the symptoms on which the treatment is predicated
who can derive any material advantage from it. This number is
so small, compared with the total number of medical students, that
a removal of the Infirmary would have but little practical effect on
the medical school at large.

" We are aware that in a suitable building such an arrange-
ment of the patients and division of the attending medical students
might be made as would render an attendance on the practice of
the house more extensively useful, but it is to the present con-
dition and usages of the establishment that our remarks must be
applied.

History of Philadelphia Almshouses an|l Hospitals. 99

" To remed}^ the difficulty which presents to extensive clinical
instruction in the wards, a practice not permitted in the Pennsyl-
vania Hospital, has gained admission into this institution. We
refer to the usage before noticed, of holding lectures in the oper-
ating room upon medical cases of particular interest, the patients
being brought from their w-ards into tlie lecture room, and there
detained during a lecture of 15 to 20 minutes. But except that
the lecture is made more imposing by the subject of it being pres-
ent, and possibly the student's attention to the case h^mg fas/cjied
by the display, we know of no benefit which can accrue from
it which w^ould not equally result from the case being lectured, in
the absence of the patient, on the notes of the ph3'sician, which
form, in realit}', the basis of the lecture.

"After what has been said on the subject in \vhich benefit is
derived from clinical instruction, showing the necessity of a near
approach to the patient, the total inutility of bringing into the
presence of one or two hundred students any case of disease, except-
ing a surgical one, must be apparent. An image of the patient
would be just as efficient.

" Your committee, having found it necessary to introduce this
practice to the notice of the Board, feel it due to the medical gen-
tlemen attached to the institution to say that they have not discov-
ered that many instances of material injtiry to the patients have
resulted from it. Great care has been taken to avoid such a conse-
quence ; at the same time the attendants of the sick speak of this
display as a source of anxiety to the invalid previous to the lec-
ture, and your committee would suggest that, particularly to the
delicate and timid, this exposure must be a trial of no small
magnitude.

" Upon the whole, your committee are of opinion that the
advantages which have accrued to the medical students generally
by the Almshouse Infirmary have been overestimated in any esti-
mate which would make its removal 'highly injurious' to the
Philadelphia School. We consider its advantages to be inestimable
to those who gain admission into it as resident students and phj'si-
cians, and we believe it greatly useful to those who can avail them-

100 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

selves of an acquaintance with its surgical and medical practice.
Beyond this, the medical school does not appear to be benefitted.

" Let the institution, however, have all the credit for useful-
ness which, for the purpose of this argument, its medical friends
might choose to assign to it, we do not perceive how its removal
" will impair the reputation which Philadelphia now enjoys for
furnishing the best medical school in the United States." It is true
the circumstance of its location being a few squares different from
its present one may occasion some inconvenience to the attending
students. This inconvenience, however, is susceptible, as we shall
ehow, of some remedy ; while it is greatly overbalanced by the
advantages which will be presented by an Infirmary erected on a
plan combining all the modern improvements which science and
art have suggested as promotive of the health, comfort and conve-
nience of its inmates.

" So far, then, from the effect predicted being the result, the
converse of it must ensue from the removal to an establishment
constructed with particular reference to a classification of the sick,
so important to their proper treatment ; and with such an arrange-
ment of its rooms that, by a suitable division of the attending stu-
dents into classes, assigning to each class a ward, practical clinical
instruction may be imparted to upwards of two hundred pupils in
each day's course of visitation, without injury to the sick.

" The inconvenience of the attending students resulting from
the greater distance of the Almshouse would find, it is believed, a
natural remedy in the selection which medical students desirous of
attending the Almshouse practice would make in their boarding-
houses, so as to fix them between the Almshouse and university or
college. Another remedy is found in the facility and cheapness
with which conveyance by carriages or stages can be obtained. We
have stages running which convey an individual to Frankford or
Germantown for twenty-five cents, or about five cents per mile, and
we have only to create a demand for such a conveyance to the
Almshouse and it will be readily afforded at a reasonable rate.

" Suppose, however, that medical instruction to non-resident
pupils was totally to cease at the Almshouse Infirmary in conse-

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 101

quence of its removal. In such event, by no means probable, the
income of this institution would be diminished $2,000 per annum 5
which, taken from the statement made in an early part of this
report of the extra annual cost of a city hospital, would still leave
a large balance in favor of the countr\' location.

'' But what other interests would be affected b}^ it ? The Penn-
sylvania Hospital would gain the sale of additional tickets ; the
private schools of instruction would also be possible gainers. Phil-
adelphia has these decided advantages for medical improvement
that the withdrawal of the Almshouse Infirmary from the system
would only brighten the other institutions. The remaining means
of instruction are so various that no other city can boast an equal-
ity of advantages, and to the existing opportunities for professional
observation a United States Marine Asylum is to be added.

"A conclusive argument in favor of the foregoing reasoning is
to be found in the fact that the number of students who attended
the University of Pennsylvania previous to the xAlmshouse being
made a school for clinical instruction was even greater than have
attended at any period since ; thus showing that admission to the
practice of the house has had no effect whatever to increase the
number of students coming to this city for medical instruction.

" We see, therefore, that no pecuniary interests are likely to
suffer by the location of the hospital west of the Schuylkill. On
the contrary, in looking forward to the period, by no means remote,
when our city plot will be generally filled by buildings for com-
merce or residence, the existence of a large infirmary within the
city for diseases of a promiscuous character would be received with
great distrust, as a source whence disease and pestilence might
possibly arise. Whether such fears would be chimerical is not for
us to pronounce. They would most certainly exist, and would
derogate much from the value of all property in its vicinity,
besides impairing the general confidence in the purit}^ of an atmos-
phere which is now inviting citizens of wealth and enterprise from
all parts of our Union to a residence among us. From the opera-
tion of such fears, combined with the inducements which ma}^ arise
to dispose of the city possessions, resulting either from their

102 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

increased value or a desire to diminish the public burdens, your
committee have no hesitation in believing that half a century
would not elapse ere another removal would be demanded and
accomplished.

" For all the reasons above assigned, your committee are of
opinion that the proper site for erecting a hospital is that already
provided by the Commissioners.

" Which is respectfully submitted."

The report was signed by Messrs. A. L. Pennock, Thomas
Rogers, Thomas Harp, John Keppler, Jr., Michael Day and L.
■ Paynter.

These gentlemen were not of the kind to jump at conclusions ;
they considered every suggestion carefully, and thus formed their
opinions. They believed that the public supported the institution
for the care, treatment and cure, if possible, of the poor unfortu-
nates under charge, and that medical instruction was secondary to
that grand object. They were deep thinkers; their conclusions
were not influenced by glittering generalities, but were based on
what they regarded as facts, " cold, stubborn facts."

After a lapse of seventy years it is interesting to note how
their predictions have been verified. The section of the city in
which the institution was located is now one of the most prosper-
ous, and there are, probably, more houses west of the Schuylkill
River than were in the entire city at that time.

That report settled the question ; the Hospital was erected on
the Almshouse site and is one of the departments of that great
establishment.

Its reputation is world-wide and of the best ; medical books
are full of descriptions of cases treated in the Philadelphia Hos-
pital— Blockley, as it is familiarly called — and many physicians
have found it to be the stepping-stone to high honors in their pro-
fession.

CHAPTER IX.

CORNER-STONE OF NEW ALMSHOUSE LAID.

ESSRS. WILLIAM BOYD and Charles Johnson, mem-
bers of the Board of Commissioners, tendered their resig-
nations, and Messrs. A. Cuthbert and J. W. Linnard
were elected by the Select and Common Councils to fill
the vacancies. The Commissioners elected Mr. D. Groves as their
President.

The entire lack of discipline and the incompetency of the
Steward of the House is shown by a report of the committee, which
stated :

'' The Committee of the House have been under the necessity
of inquiring into the circumstances of an alarming and disagree-
able quarrel which occurred at the Steward's table on the 5th inst.,
and, in the prosecution of the inquiry, have discovered other
instances of disorder, all of wliich they deem it proper to exhibit in
the following report.

" ' About three months since an affray took place at the table
between some of the ph3'sicians and Mr. Hutchinson, the Superin-
tendent of the manufactory, in consequence of the observation of
Dr. Alott, in relation to Free Masonry, which Mr. Hutchinson
took up as a designed affront to himself, though no such design
appeared. Some high words ensued. The contents of a tumbler
were thrown in the face of Mr. Hutchinson, and he was forcibly
expelled from the room by the others. This altercation became
the subject of a legal inquiry, and the persons by whom the assault
on Mr. Hutchinson was committed were subjected to a verj' mod-
erate fine for the offence, which the Recorder considered was much
mitigated by the manner and conduct of the individual assailed.'

''The Guardians, to whom this altercation was known,
hoped that with the decision of the Court would have terminated
all controversy, and no order was taken upon the affair by them.
It appears, however, that in a single instance, subsequent to the

103

104 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

trial, Mr. Hutchinson improperly remarked at table that he had
heard the doctors were unable to raise the money to pay their costs,
while very frequent occasions have been sought by the other side
to irritate his feelings by using idle and indecorous speeches hav-
ing allusion to him. Dr. Jones, one of the resident physicians,
admits that fact, and that he has frequently made remarks with
respect to Mr. Hutchinson, with a view to compel his absence from
the table, and he justifies this by referring to a communication
which the ph37sicians submitted to the Board on the subject of
Mr. Hutchinson's presence at the table, but on which no order was
taken by the Board. Dr. Hunt, the prominent party in the recent
quarrel, admits also that since the remark was made by Mr.
Hutchinson regarding their not being able to pay the costs he
has assailed him himself, and taken frequent opportunities to
satirize him.

" All the testimony received evinces that, prior to the first
affray, and subsequent to it, with the exception of the remark we
have noticed, the conduct of Mr. Hutchinson was decorous and
unexceptionable, while the persevering remarks and taunts of the
physicians above named were annoying in the extreme, and to
have resisted the feelings they were bound to excite, must have
called for much self-command on the part of Mr. Hutchinson.

" Thus goaded, Mr. Hutchinson expressed to some individual
a determination to chastise Dr. Hunt should the latter persevere
in taunting him at the table. Shortly afterwards Dr. Hunt heard
of the declaration, and, on the 5th inst., at the dinner table,
renewed his attack upon Mr. Hutchinson, first saying, in relation
to a celery glass, that it would make a good hog-trough, the term
hog being understood, by previous inuendos, to designate Mr.
Hutchinson. The doctor then inquired of Mr. Stockton, the
Steward, whether he had heard of any threats of vengeance declared
against him, adding that he feared no threats uttered behind his
back ; none but cowards made such threats and they did not exe-
cute them. Mr. Hutchinson now replied that these remarks were
made for him ; that he would no longer bear them, and that if Dr.
Hunt persevered he would thrash him and give him a pair of black

History of Pliila lelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 105

eyes, accompan^'ing tlie threat, it is alleged, witli profane language.
Dr. Hunt now seized a tumbler and projected it at the head of Air.
Hutchinson with a force that would have resulted in incalculable
injury had it struck the intended mark. Mr. Hutchinson, seizing
another tumbler, hurled it at his assailant, after which missiles of a
similar nature were thrown b\' Dr. Hunt. The doctor was about
to seize a poker from the fireside when he was arrested through the
interference of the family.

" The Committee omits all comment upon the scene, but it is
due to Mr. Hutchinson to add, in relation to the alleged profanity
of his language, that the testimou}^ is, he is not in the habit of
using profane language, which is, unfortunately too much used by
the individuals making the allegation."

" On the last ' Board night ' all the physicians absented them-
selves from the Steward's table. It appears to be the practice of
the House to furnish the physicians with luncheon at ii o'clock
and supper at nine. On this particular evening Dr. Clarke, taking
a plate from a servant, declared, without examining it, that the meat
was spoiled. He then placed the meat on the floor, near the
threshold of the door, when Dr. Jones kicked it several yards into
the passage.

" On the next da}^ a piece of meat was served in the same
manner by Dr. Hunt, whose excuse was that he suspected the meat
was the same that was kicked over the floor on the preceeding day.

" It is proper to add that the allegation of Dr. Clarke of the
meat being bad is without the shadow of a foundation, and the tes-
timony is that Airs. Piersol, who has charge of the table, is very
ambitious to have everything very nice in relation to it."

The ph3'sicians complained of were very j^oung men, and the
Board took that into consideration ; and, while some of the mem-
bers were in favor of dismissing them, it was deemed to be sufficient
punishment to reprimand them, and " they were warned that their
continuance in the institution depended upon their conducting
themselves in a more decorous manner." There does not appear
on the records anything to show that the incompetent official in
charge was dismissed or even reprimanded for allowing such dis-

106 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

graceful conduct to continue to bring its mismanagement so prom-
inently before the community.

The indiscriminate distribution of out-door relief had grown to
such alarming proportions ; such a long list of pensioners, as they
were termed, being supplied with money, as well as provisions,
etc. ; the cost had arrived at such figures ; and, the abuses of
the system had become so glaring that a general demand was made
to stop, or at least, check it.

An act was passed by the Legislature, in compliance with the
request of the Guardians.

At the next session a bill was introduced to repeal that act.
The Guardians obtained information of the proposed action and
sent the following memorial, which received the full vote of the
members of the Board :

" To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met.

" The memorial of the ' Guardians for the Relief and Em-
ployment of the Poor of the City of Philadelphia, the District of
South wark and the Townships of Northern Liberties and Penn,'
respectfully sheweth.

" That your memorialists have seen with deep regret a Bill No.
8 1, on the Senate files, which proposes to change in very material
features the existing system for the management of the Poor in
this District and your memorialists beg leave most respectfully to
state their entire dissent from all the features of that Bill.

" It must be in the recollection of many of the members of
3^our Honorable Bodies that the system now in progress was
adopted upon the earnest demand of the people of the City of Phila-
delphia and the adjoining Districts and Townships, it was called
for by them loudly ; they complained, and had long complained of
abuses resulting from the former system. They at last rose in
their Primary Assemblies in Town Meeting and declared by accla-
mation that their grievances must be redressed. They referred the
subject to intelligent and experienced men from the City and
County. The plan which these men, after long and anxious reflec-
tion proposed was hailed with universal approval, it was submitted

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 107

to and approved of by the Councils of the Cit}', by the Board of
Commissioners of the Northern Liberties, of Southwark, of Ken-
sington and of Penn Township and by the former Board of Guard-
ians, consisting of fifty citizens from all parts of the District. It
was presented to your Honorable Bodies supported by numerous
memorials in its favor. It was at your last session fully examined,
debated and finally adopted and passed into a Law, and is now in
the progress of execution and experiment. What, then, your
memorialists would ask, can have occurred to render an interfer-
ence with this Law necessary ; before its operation has been tested,
before its principles have had an opportunity to unfold their results ?
Does the public voice call for this interference ? Your memorial-
ists have not understood that it does ? on the contrar}^ they believe
the feelings and wishes of the community to be all enlisted in
favor of the act now in force. They cannot believe otherwise with-
out imputing fickleness of sentiment to that public, who are equally
the constituents of j^our memorialists and of the members of your
Honorable Bodies.

" Your memorialists beg leave to remind you that one great
subject of general complaint was, what is generally called the out-
door iyslcni of relief] the practical operation of which was the estab-
lishment of a regular and constantly increasing ' List of Pension-
ers,' who fed upon the public purse without check or control and
demanded as a right, and received as a right the produce of the
labours of the industrious classes. There was no end or limit to
this evil, it had attained an alarming magnitude. To arrest its
course required the strong arm of the Law ; it was interposed and
the evil has been stayed, and the people were thankful.

" Yet the first section of the Bill against which we remon-
strate is intended once more to launch against us this engine of
destruction. Your memoralists pray your Honorable Bodies to
recur to the Petitions of the last sessions and to adhere to the course
of policy then adopted and predicated upon those petitions. They
beg leave to suggest that the Law, as it now stands, permits tevi-
porary relief to the sufferer in his family, but to be administered
in food, clothing, fuel, medicines and all the necessaries and

108 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

comforts of life, while it forbids the baneful grant of pecuniary
Pensions.

" Your memorialists are also averse to that part of the Bill
which com pels them to erect a Hospital within the bounds of the
city. Allow them to ask why tJiey should not be entrusted with
this question. Are not your memorialists like yourselves elected
to discharge the duties belonging to their station ? Are they not
responsible for the violation of these duties ? Do they not act
under the sanction of a sacred obligation, are they not members of
the community most interested in the matter under discussion ?
Do they not themselves contribute by payment of Taxes, to the
creation of the fund ? Why, then, shall they not be permitted
to exercise the functions thus cast upon them, and in which they
have so deep an interest ? Why must your Honorable Bodies be
appealed to, to superintend, check, control and pass upon each and
all their acts ?

" If the people call for your interference, your memorialists
admit the case for interference would then arise, but while they
are not dissatisfied, your memorialists submit that such intervention
would be equally unjust to them and burdensome to you.

" Again it can only require to be mentioned, it need not be
insisted upon, that the establishment of a Hospital at a dis-
tance from the Almshouse would be for many reasons impolitic
and imprudent ; cruel to the tenants of the latter place, and by
the process of removal and its consequences fatal to Individuals
and offensive in cases, perhaps dangerous, to the public. An
establishment for the reception of those who may suffer from
sudden accident, or from illness which cannot be properl}^ attended
to in their families may become desirable at a future period within
the city, and will then be erected ; but your memorialists respect-
fully submit that the people of this District, and the public bodies
of this section of the State are competent to Judge of the proper
time and occasion for such an erection. At this moment it would
be burdensome, expensive and inconvenient.

" Allow your memorialists also to respectfully ask whether
they are not entitled to Judge of the Rules which should govern

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 109

their mode of transacting their own business? Must they be
driven on all occasions to recur for assent and approbation to other
authorities, to Judges and Attornies-General ? What other corpora-
tion is so restricted ? Why are not the members of this Body to
be entrusted with their own government ? Will the City of Phila-
delphia, the District of Southwark, the Townships of the Northern
Liberties and Penn — will they depute men to the performance of
this trust who are not worthy to be permitted to enact their own
rules? Do not the principles of our government forbid this
supposition ?

" And allow us to ask, can the authorities referred to in Section
3 be competent Judges of the necessity, or of the mode of operation
of these rules ? Can any Body of them except those who witness
their effects ?

" In conclusion, your memorialists respectfully pray that they
may be allowed, without change or alteration of any kind, at least
to give a fair experiment to the system now in operation, demanded
as it was by the acclamation of the community and granted by you
in consequence of the acclamations, which hardly yet ceased to
resound through your Halls.

" With these observations, your memorialists most respectfully
remonstrate against the passage of any Bill which may change the
existing Laws for the relief and employment of the Poor in the City
of Philadelphia, the district of Southwark and the townships of
the Northern Liberties and Penn.

" By order of the Board.

" Thomas P. Cope, President.

" Attest : George Heyl, Secretary P

It was thought at the time that the parties who were instru-
mental in having the bill introduced were interested in having the
hospital built where it would be more convenient for them, and as
it was generally known that the Board of Guardians had decided
upon its location, this measure was intended to frustrate their
plans. If such was the fact, the scheme miscarried, the memorial
had the desired effect and the Bill was not passed.

110 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals,

The Commissioners for erecting the buildings were anxious
to employ the architect to superintend the building of them. Mr.
Strickland was a ver}^ busy man, and it was deemed advisable to
communicate with him, and, if possible, secure his services.

In reply to their communication, they received the following:

" Philadelphia, October 25th, 1829.

"6"//' .• As it will be entirely out of my power to give my
exclusive attention as architect to the building of the new Alms-
house, and as I can only devote that time which may be unem-
ployed under my present engagements, I take the liberty of pro-
posing for your consideration the following terms upon which I
can agree to superintend the Building : To make all the drawings
necessary for the workmen and to give the building generally
a proper attention whenever my other duties will permit, for the
sum of $800 per annum.

Should this proposition meet with your approval, I shall be
happy to serve you.

With great respect I am, sir,

Your obed't serv't,

" William Strickland."

The terms were accepted, and it was ordered that the salary
should be started at once.

Mr. Tracy Taylor, commissioner for erecting buildings, ten-
dered his resignation, and Mr. P. Deal, Jr., was elected by the com-
missioners of the Kensington district to fill the vacancy.

Several conferences were held by the committees representing
the two Boards, to endeavor to agree upon the plans for the build-
ings. The architect was called into these consultations, and, on
January nth, 1830, the committee representing the Board of
Guardians reported to that body that they had agreed upon the
plans, which were submitted for approval.

" The plans were approved and the committee was instructed
to wait upon ihe Commissioners and to verbally give their assent
to the plans submitted."

Plistory of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. Ill

It was now thought that everything had been arranged sat-
isfactorily to all parties, and the work of erecting the buildings
could be started.

A committee was appointed to advertise for proposals for the
material that may b.a wanted to construct the walls, etc.

It was " Resolved, that in the erection of the buildings the
stone work be done by the perch, mason's measure, except the
dressed stone which shall be set b}^ the superficial foot, measureing
the face onl}'. The bricks shall be laid by the thousand, including
jobbing and other extra work. The carpenter work, as far as
practicable, shall be done by measurement."

Proposals having been received, in compliance with advertise-
ments, contracts were awarded : To Lane Scofiield for foundations,
cellars, etc., at the rate of 14 cents per cubic 3'ard ; to J. and J.
Snj'der, and others, for 1,300,000 bricks at $6.37^ per thousand ;
to Samuel Davis and Jon'a Wentz for 80,000 bushels of lime at 21
cents per bushel; to Lehigh Co. for 60,000 feet 21^-inch plank at
$10.00 per M., and 300 poles, not less than 40 feet, at $1.40 each ;
to Hugh Scott for 20,000 feet of chiseled dressed stone at 60 cents
per foot, and to Robert P. Crosby for 11,000 perch of building stone
at $1.05 per perch, measured in the wall.

It was agreed to divide the mason's work into two, and the
carpenter's work into five parts.

The Commissioners elected IMessrs. Corlies & Cowperthwaite
and Thomas Eastlack as masons, and George Senneff, John Bishop,
H. L. Coryll, John Gilder and G. R. Harmstead as carpenters.

It was agreed that the Center Building, Almshouse, be denom-
inated No. I and assigned to H. L. Coryll ; northeast wing. No. 2 ,to
G. R. Harmstead; southwest wing. No. 3, to John Bishop; Hospi-
tal, southeast wing, No. 4, to George Senneff; and northwest wing
No. 5, to John Gilder, and, that all of the general jobbing work
required previous to the commencement of the new buildings be
given to George Senneff, under the direction of the architect. Mr.
Harmstead declined and P. Deal & Co. were elected in his stead.
Mr. W. Govett was elected Superintendent. On motion of Mr.
W. Wagner "the Superintendent was authorized to purchase three

112 Histcry of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

rafts of white pine boards, 30,000 feet sap boards and one raft of
oak scantling, and that W. Wagner and G. B. Baker be a commit-
tee to direct and advise bim in said purchase, and that an order be
drawn in favor of W. Wagner for $1,000 to pay the bill."

Air. D. Groves, President of the Commissioners, resigned, and
Mr. W. Wagner was elected in his stead. The Board selected
E. W. Keyser, Esq., as President of their body.

Another change in the plans was called for. The Superin-
tendent of the New York Almshouse, Mr. Arthur Burtis, had sent
several letters to tbe Board of Guardians relative to separate dor-
mitories. These were transmitted to the Commissioners " wnth
information that this Board will cheerfully concur in any modifica-
tion of the plan adopted for the new Almshouse, which, on con-
sideration, may be found necessary, useful and expedient."

The architect subsequently reported " that he had accommo-
dated the plans of the new buildings, as far as regards separate
dormitories, to meet the views of the Board of Guardians."

E. W. Keyser, Esq., President of the Board of Commissioners,
laid the corner-stone of the new Almshouse on May 26, 1830. He
delivered an appropriate address, which was listened to with much
interest by those present. The ceremonies were witnessed by
Messrs. Moore, Wagner, Deal, McGlinsey and Bunker, of the
Board of Commissioners, nearly all of the members of the Board of
Guardians of the Poor, and a number of other persons.

Although the Board of Guardians had approved the plans that
had been adopted for the buildings, it soon became apparent that
the members were not satisfied. There was a constant friction
between the two Boards. Whenever the Guardians thought that
they were not entirely pleased, and that seemed to occur very fre-
quently, they wanted to stop all proceedings. This, of course, was
very annoying to the Commissioners, and led to loss on the part of
the workmen. Contracts were made in accordance with plans that
had been adopted, and when the work was partly done the Guard-
ians managed to discover that it was not what was wanted, and
called for a change. This interfered very materially with the
progress of the work and added to the cost. <

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 113

Instead of working together harmoniously the two Boards
drifted apart. The Guardians adopted the following : " Whereas
it is highly important to the welfare of the Poor and to the inter-
ests of the public that the buildings for the accommodation of the
former should be erected on such plans as shall combine comfort
and economy ; and Whereas, this Board (to which the Law has
given an approval of the plan) is not satisfied with the arrange-
ments of the Buildings as now progressing, and feels assured that
a little delay will result in harmony and in the adoption of a more
perfect plan ; therefore,

" Rcsolz'cd^ unanimously, that the Board of Commissioners
be respectfully requested to arrest the progress of the buildings
until such period as the committees of conference in joint meet-
ing may deem advisable.

" Resolved, That the Committee of Conference be instructed to
wait on the Commissioners and submit to their consideration the
plans for separate dormitories now before this Board.

" Resolved^ That the said committee be instructed to suggest
to the Board of Commissioners the necessity of constructing the
walls of the Buildings in such manner as to admit the most
approved mode of cleaning and ventilating the apartments.

'' Resolved, That the Committee of Conference be instructed
to meet the committee appointed by the Board of Commissioners at
stated periods in order that the state of the Buildings from time to
time may be known, and that the interior arrangements may be so
found as will best answer the purposes for which the buildings are
designed.'

Messrs. Isaac Roach and J. W. Linnard resigned, and the Select
and Common Councils elected Messrs. John W. Frale}^ and John
Moss to fill the vacancies. The friction regarding the plans caused
a cessation of the work, and the changing of some of the interior
called forth a letter from Corlies & Cowperthwaite, contractors,
in which they said : " The change in the plan of the Building
makes a very material difference to us in executing the work, in
addition to which we have been obliged to stop and discharge all
hands for one week ; this has occasioned considerable loss and

114 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

inconvenience, besides being idle for a week. Three or four weeks
before we had no chance to push the job, for reasons you are
doubtless acquainted with. Under these circumstances we confi-
dently expect that you will not hesitate to make good the contract
by pa3dng us the difference in building the dormitories ; to be
assessed by two persons to be appointed by the parties. The
alterations, such as taking down and re-building, to be measured
and valued."

Mr. George N. Baker resigned, and Mr. Edward Shotwell was
elected Commissioner to fill the vacancy.

The Commissioners concluded to purchase some materials
without advertising for bids, as the minutes show : " The Building
Committee are authorized to purchase loo.ooo ft. oak plank on
the best terms they can, not exceeding $10.00 per M.; the commit-
tee are authorized to purchase nails, &c., on the best terms, &c."

Philip Raybold was awarded a contract November ist, 1830,
for 1,500,000 bricks at $6.00 per M. Contracts were also awarded
for stone, lumber, &c., as the work progressed.

CHAPTER X.

EPIDEMIC OF CHOLERA, 1832— SERVICES OF SISTERS OF CHARITY.

THE Select and Common Councils sent a communication to
the Commissioners January i6th, 1832, requesting informa-
tion as to the amount expended and likely to be required to
complete the contemplated buildings. In reply thereto the
following statement was transmitted :

Cost of Farm containing about 188 acres ^51,716 94

Present cost of the two buildings, each 500 ft. in front by 65 ft. deep 195,303 00

Cost of constructing a wharf on the Schuylkill, wifh a road leading to the

Buildings . 4,517 00

Estimated cost to complete the present Buildings, Almshouse and Hospital . . 85,000 00
Estimated cost of two other Buildings, which are intended as House of Eniploy-
ment, Children's Asylum and Women's Apartments, which are to be built
in conformity with present buildings 215,000 co

Total ^551,536 t4

Contracts were awarded for plastering, painting and glazing
of the center building on February 20th, 1832. The Committee
of Conference of the Guardians of the Poor and of the Commis-
sioners reported, March 5th, 1832, that they had unanimously
agreed upon the plans for the additional buildings.

An advertisement for proposals was inserted on March 13th,
1832, reading: "Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of
Commissioners for erecting the new Almshouse on the west bank
of the River Schuylkill until the 19th inst., for doing the masons'
v/ork of the Women's Almshouse and House of Employment.
The former to be built on the dormitory system, similar to the
Men's Almshouse already erected, except that one-half of the dor-
mitories are to be double and the other half single. The partition
walls of the latter to be stone. The work to be done in a sub-
stantial and workmanlike manner. The stone work by the perch
mason's measure. The brick work by the thousand, brick maker's
count, and the chiseled dressed stone, say, sub-basement and belt-
ing courses, coins, heads and sills by the superficial feet when

115

116 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

laid in the walls only, and no allowance to be made for bed or
joints ; all jobbing of every description to be included." The
advertisement also called for bids for the carpenter work, for
1,500,000 bricks and for chiseled, dressed stone.

The work was divided in the same manner as the other had
been, and bids were received from the same carpenters to do the
work, at a deduction of forty per cent, from the old prices. Their
propositions were accepted. The proposal of Joseph L. Atkinson
for doing mason's work, etc., viz : for stone work at 55 cents per
perch, brick work at $2.29 per thousand, and laying chiseled
dressed stone at 10 cents per foot was accepted, and the Women's
Almshouse was allotted to him. The proposal of Henry Reeves for
stone work at 58 cents per perch, brick work at ^2.18 per thousand,
and laying chiseled dressed stone at 9 cents per foot, was also ac-
cepted, and he was given the work on House of Employment.

The contract for furnishing 1,500,000 bricks was awarded to
Philip Reynolds & Son at $6.25 per thousand.

Mr. Wm. Wagner resigned his seat as a Commissioner and
Mr. Jonathan Johnson was elected to fill the vacancy.

Messrs. Moss, Ogden and Deal were appointed as a committee
to " purchase lumber generally."

The following communication was forwarded :

"■ Philadelphia Almshouse, July 30, 1832.
" T/ie Conirnissio7iers for Erecting Nezu AluisJioiise :

" Gentlemen — The Board of Guardians of the Poor having
decided upon the immediate removal of a considerable portion of
paupers from this House to the New Buildings over Schuylkill, we
respectfully request that you will instruct the architect to have
immediately erected a temporary apparatus sufficient to cook for
five hundred persons. Until this is effected the removal cannot
take place, and it is a matter of necessity that the paupers should
at once be removed. It is also requested that carpenters be directed
to prepare slats for the dormitory and to do such other work as may
be immediately required for the accommodation of the paupers."
Referred to Joint Committee.

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals, 117

On August 23d, 1H32, the following resolution was passed :

^''Rcsolvcd^ That the Board of Ccmmissioners for erecting the
New Almshouse be requested to furnish the names of all persons
under salary, how they are employed, and the amount of salaries
respectively ; the names of all persons with whom they have con-
tracted for materials or work, stating the kind of materials and
work. The names of persons who have supplied material or done
work without contracts ; a copy of the different contracts entered
into for material and workmanship."

The Commissioners replied as follows : " That the following
persons are employed by this Board at annual salaries, viz.: Wm.
Govett, Superintendent, $900 ; Wm. Strickland, architect, $Soo ;
John Diehl, clerk, $800 ; George Meyers, $600, as blacksmith, in
lieu of working by the piece.

'' The copies of all the contracts called for by the Guardians
being ver}' voluminous would require much time and labour, to
avoid which, and at the same time to meet the view^s of said Board,
the Commissioners respectfully invite them to examine, through
the medium of a committee, the written contracts, books of min-
utes and such other documents as may be required to accomplish
the objects of their inquiry." The yeas and nays were called on
the motion to send the above information and were : Yeas, Messrs.
Ke3'ser, Fraley, Deal, Johnson and Bunker. Nays, Messrs. Moss,
Ogden and Grover.

On July 7th, 1832, the following communication was received :
" Special meeting of the Board of Physicians and Surgeons was
held at the Philadelphia Almshouse. Present: Drs. Neill, Hodge,
Horner, Barton, Randolph and Morton. On motion,

^^'Resolvcd^ That the Medical Board recommend to the Board
of IManagers the propriety of prohibiting the introduction into this
house of any case of cholera.

'' Resolved^ That it also be recommended to the iManagers to
make provision for such cases of cholera as may occur within the
limits of their administration, and that said accommodations be
located as near as practicable to this infirmary."

(Signed) S. G. Morton, M. D., Secretary pro tern.

118 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

The following preamble and resolution were received from tlie
out-door ph3^sicians :

" Whereas, The experience of Europe lias shown that the
removal of patients attacked witli cholera to hospitals remote
from their places of residence is attended with injurious effects;
therefore,

^''Resolved, That the Board of Guardians for the Relief and
Employment of the Poor be recommended to establish, under the
superintendence of the out-door physicians, temporary hospitals
for the reception of such cases as it may at the present period be
deemed inexpedient to admit into the Almshouse.

D. F. CoNDiE, Chairman.

These were the warning notes of the approach of the disease
that afflicted the people of the city and caused so much fear and
misery. Every measure that could be suggested for relief was
tried by the Guardians of the Poor. A special meeting of the
Board was held on Sunday July 29th, 1832, "to consider what
measures ought to be adopted in consequence of a case of malig-
nant cholera having occurred in the Almshouse." The following
preamble and resolutions were adopted :

" WherEAvS, a case of cholera morbus of a highly malignant
character has occurred in the Medical Ward of the Almshouse,
this day, and we have every reason to believe that the disease will
progress unless immediate measures be taken to remove the popu-
lation ; and, as in every place where an epidemic has made its
appearance, its progress has been checked as soon as the inhabit-
ants have been removed from the infected district, and few, or no
new cases have occurred among the persons so removed there-
from. To protect the lives of the inmates of the Almshouse and
to prevent the cholera from obtaining a favorable spot for the infec-
tion of Philadelphia.

Resolved^ That measures be taken for the immediate removal
of all healthy paupers from the Almshouse to the new buildings
over Schuylkill or to some other suitable place, except those whose
services are required for the sick.

Historv of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 119

"'Resolved^ That the sick persons be so distributed in tbe wards
as to afford all the advantages of ventilation and. cleanliness.

^'' Resolved^ That a committee be appointed to carry the fore-
going resolutions into effect and organize the place provided,"

Messrs. Woolf, I. Cope, Lippincott, Hansell, Ryan and Burden
were appointed on the committee.

By request of this Committee the mayor sent a letter to Com-
modore Barron" asking him to place the Naval Asylum in posses-
sion of the Committee, with permission to remove into it some
of the paupers from the Almshouse. A reply was received from
Dr. Connors, the attending officer, " declining to comply, not feeling
authorized to allow the admission of paupers into it, or its occu-
pation by the civil authorities for any other purpose than as a hos-
pital for cholera patients.

The mayor was chairman of the Sanitarj^ Committee of the
Guardians of the Poor and consulted with that body. It was sug-
gested that the Board of Health be requested to take possession of
the Naval Asylum, and to allow the Guardians to occup}^ the City
Hospital near Bush Hill.

The Committee was instructed to erect sheds at the " new
buildings over Schu34kill " for a hospital for the sick of that build-
ing, and the Committee of the house was authorized to employ two
resident physicians for the " house over the Schuylkill."

The Board of Health declined to act upon the request to take
possession of the Naval i\s34um.

Dr. Burden reported, August 13, 1832, that by direction of the
Committee of the house, he had " made application to the Rev. Mr.
Hughes for the aid of some of the ' Sisters of Charity,' and that
eight of them had arrived and were engaged in attending upon the
sick in the house."

A report from the Committee of the house, under date of
August 27, 1832, gives an idea of the conditions at that time. It
reads as follows :

" When cholera made its appearance in the different wards of
the Almshouse, and led to the belief that the atmosphere of the
whole institution was infected, the nurses and attendants became

120 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

clamorous for an increase of wages, and after their demands were
gratified, such was the appalling nature and extent of the disease,
that fear overcame every other consideration, and it was found
impracticable to keep the nurses to their duty or to obtain, at a
reasonable price, proper persons to attend to the sick.

" In a disease which requires unremitted attention from nurses,
those emplo3^ed in the wards (a few excepted) were by no means
suitable. In several cases where the doctors had succeeded in
raising patients from the collapsed state, and when there was well
grounded hope of recover}^, death resulted from the carelessness
and inattention of the attendants. In one ward where the disease
raged in all its horrors, where one would suppose that the heart
would be humbled and the feelings softened at the sight of distress,
the nurse and her attendants were in a state of intoxication, heed-
less of the groans of the patients and fighting over the bodies of
the dying and the dead.

" The Committee, in their daily visits to the wards, used every
exertion to preserve decorum and to cause proper attention to be
given to the sick, but without success. The few good nurses were
broken down by loss of rest and by fatigue, and the remainder
abandoned the sick from fear of disease or resorted to intoxication,
the means for producing which being necessarily at their disposal.

" Under these circumstances the Committee came to the deter-
mination of soliciting the Sisters of Charity at Emmetsburg to take
charge of the wards, and for this purpose they applied to Bishop
Kendrick, to whom they were introduced by the Rev. Mr. Kiely.
The application was received by him in the spirit of Christianity
and kindness. The Rev. Messrs. Donahue and Hughes likewise
favored the views of the Committee.

" Two hours after the receipt of Bishop Kendrick's letter, the
Sisters were on the road to Philadelphia. On their arrival the
Committee prepared accommodations for them in the eastern tower,
and they immediately entered upon the dangerous duties assigned
them.

'' The Committee cannot express the feelings of respect and
admiration which they entertain for the conduct of the Sisters. It

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. liil

requires no common exercise of courage for persons to remain in
the chamber of sickness, to administer relief, even to relatives and
friends, during the prevalence of pestilence. These ladies, how-
ever, left a healthy home to visit an infected city, to encounter a
dreadful disease, to live in an atmosphere dangerous in the extreme,
to watch by the bedside of strangers, of the friendless, of the out-
cast, of those who generally had proved themselves unworthy of
kindness.

" Nothing but a high sense of duty and a disinterested love of
their fellow creatures could have induced the Sisters to take charge
of our wards.

" Since their introduction to the house the Committee has
given them the sole control of the female department, and are much
gratified with their mode of government, as it will not only con-
tribute to lessen the expenses of the institution, but will cause an
improvement in the morals and discipline highly desirable.

"As nurses their services are valuable; guided by no mer-
cenary motives, refusing all compensation, sustained by principle
alone ; kind, intelligent and cheerful, their attentions will contri-
bute to the success of the physicians. The patients will find in
them friends indeed and ' Sisters of Charity.'

" The Committee believe that if the Sisters can be prevailed
upon to remain, the Hospital department of the Almshouse will
afford greater opportunity for the recovery of the sick than any
other institution in the United States. The Committee submit the
following resolutions :

" Resolved^ That the Sisters of Charity have charge of the
Female Department of the Almshouse, and of such medical and
surgical wards of the Male Department as they may consent to.

" Resolved^ That they be requested to remain permanently in
the institution.

" Resolved^ That the Committee of the House be directed to
have the Hospital department put in as favorable a condition for
the comfort and attendance of the sick as the construction of the
wards will admit of.

" Resolved^ That the thanks of the Board be tendered to

122 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

Bishop Kendrick and the Rev. Messrs. Kiely, Hughes and Dona-
hue for their Christian-like and gentlemanly conduct in procuring
the aid of the ' Sisters of Charity.'

Respectfully submitted by,

J. R. Burden,
John L. Woolf,
Lewis Ryan,
Wm. S. Hansell,

Committee.

The resolutions were unanimously agreed to.

The Guardians applied for the schoolhouse at Twelfth and
Locust Streets, but could not obtain it. They rented a building on
Broad Street near Vine and fitted it up for the reception of patients.
Dr. Thomas Mackie Smith, one of the resident physicians at the
Almshouse, was appointed Physician-in-Chief of the Broad Street
Infirmary, and Dr. Benjamin Neill as Assistant. Under their
direction, the Hospital was opened on July 30th, 1832. It was
closed September 3d. The Committee said there was no further
occasion to continue it, as " the cholera had almost entirely disap-
peared." During the time it was in operation there were 44 males
and 21 females treated ; of which 4 died, 38 were sent to the Alms-
house, 19 discharged cured and 2 eloped ; one was sent to cholera
hospital and one to Bush Hill.

On September 20, 1832, the Committee of the House was
directed to remove the paupers from the new Almshouse over the
Schuylkill to this house. Dr. Samuel G. Morton w^as paid $100
for professional services " over the river during the prevalence of
cholera," and Mr. William O. Kline was paid $100 for services as
steward, " over the river."

The Guardians were very anxious to remove to the new Alms-
house, and on November 12th, 1832, a report was made by the
" Committee of the Whole," " that, after a full examination, they
were of opinion that the buildings would be fit for the accommoda-
tion of the inmates of the House on or before May ist, 1833." A
committee was appointed to make arrangements for the removal,

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 123

and another to prepare a plan for the sale of the Spruce Street
property."

Dr. T. Alackie Smith was paid $75 for services rendered in
the Almshouse Infirmary " during the prevalence of the cholera."
Notwithstanding the anxiety of the Guardians, the buildings
were not ready to be occupied at the time stated, and on
April 29th, 1833, the Committee on Conference was requested to
*' inquire as to the progress made in the new buildings over
Schuylkill, the probable time when they will be finished and the
sum which will be required to finish them." The Commissioners
were requested to proceed as early as possible to finish the two
buildings already erected, so that they could be in condition to
be occupied.

Mr. Woolf gave notice *' that at the first stated meeting in
July he should move for the removal of the paupers to the new
buildings west of the Schuylkill.

A special meeting of the Guardians was held on May 17th,
1833, to consider a communication from Rev. John Hickey, Supe-
rior of the Sisters of Charity, in relation to their removal from the
Almshouse. The following extract gives the reasons assigned for
recalling them :

" Being now on the spot, and having made all the inquiries
necessary to determine my judgment, I feel it my duty, gentlemen,
to advise you that I do not consider their longer stay in the Alms-
house to be the department of cliarit}^ in which they can be most
usefully employed.

" With all the good will and kindness which 3^ou gentlemen
have manifested in their regard, I do not perceive that, consistently
with the principle on which the institution is founded, supported
and governed, it is in your power to secure to them those opportu-
nities of practicing the duties of their state of life according to
their rules ; that protection of their feelings from the rude assaults
of such persons as are necessarily in ^^our institution, and regard
it as their own, whilst they look upon those who minister to their
comfort as servants, paid for doing it ; or that securit}^ from mis-
representation of motives and action to which a few retiring and

124 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

timid females are necessarily exposed, laboring amidst such a
population of paupers.

" Besides, in every case of legal provision for the poor, the
expenses of attending them are included ; the places occupied
by the Sisters might afford employment to others who stand in
need of it, for the sake of the emolument, which enters not into the
motives that influence the Sisters or their superiors. Consequently
the poor would be attended to in your institution, whilst the Sisters
could be employed in other departments of charity, where the
unhappy sufferers have to depend upon a more precarious support;
where the orphans will look upon them as mothers and the sick as
sisters ; where theirs will be the task to plant the seeds of virtue
and of education in the minds of poor children, where poverty and
wretched parents sometimes conspire to deprive them of both,
unless such facilities be afforded."

Mr. Woolf presented the following preamble and resolutions,
which were unanimously adopted, and, together with the letter of
Rev. Mr. Hickey, ordered to be published :

" Whereas, A written communication has been received from
Rev. John Hickey, Superior of the Sisters of Charity, intimating,
for reasons therein stated, that it is his intention to recall the Sisters
now in the Almshouse, as soon as the Board shall have had time
to supply their places, and

" WherEAvS, It is proper that some testimony should be borne
to the zeal, fidelity and disinterestedness which these amiable
philanthropists have exhibited ; therefore,

" Resolved^ That this body entertain a deep, lasting and grate-
ful sense of the generous devotedness, the sincere and Christian
kindness, and the pure and unworldly benevolence which have
prompted and sustained the Sisters of Charity attached to this
institution during the trying period of pestilence and death, and
afterwards in the midst of constant suffering and disease.

" Resolved^ That the invaluable services of these amiable
women have been productive of lasting benefits to this institution,
in the admirable and energetic measures which they have intro-
duced for the relief and comfort of the sick and afflicted, and entitle

z
m

O
"n

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 1-'>

them to the warmest thanks and gratitude of the whole commu-
nit}' which have been benefitted b}' their labors.

" Rcsolz'cd^ That this bod}', in parting from the Sisters of
Charity, regret that the rules and habits of the order, to which
the Sisters belong, do not admit the acceptance of an}^ reward,
as it would give them pleasure to bestow such a testimonial as
might serve partially to express the grateful feelings which they
entertain.

" Resolved^ That in permanent testimon}^ of our feelings in
this regard, the above resolutions be recorded in the minutes of the
Board."

On May 27, 1833, the following replies to inquiries proposed
by the Committee of Conference to the Building Commissioners
were read :

" ist Query — The two buildings, in all probability, will be
ready to receive the paupers by the ist of October. There remains
yet to be completed the portico, culverts, privies, tanks and forcing
pumps and apparatus for cooking generally.

" 2d Query — The two now erecting, have on their second floor
of joist and the work is progressing rapidl3^ Expended up to this
period $107,072.78. Sum necessary to complete these two build-
ings, $175,000; they \vill be finished in course of next season.

" 3^ Qu^^i"}' — l^hs sum required to finish the entire establish-
ment being $200,000.

" 4th Query — Contracts j^et to be made for the two in progress
are plastering and rough-casting, both copper and coppering, paint-
ing and glazing."

These answers do not appear to have satisfied the Board, as a
motion to negotiate another loan of $ioo,oco caused considerable
discussion, and when passed it ''provided^ Jiozvever^ that no money
shall be paid to the Commissioners fo 7' the erection of t lie nezc Alms-
house until said Commissioners fiirnisJi a detailed stateme^tt in
writing of the money already expended^ the names of the Con-
tractors^ the names of Agents and Superintendents^ ivith their
respective salaries, and the probable amount of money required to
complete the buildings respectively.'' ''

126 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

Juue 3, 1833, the Commissioners sent a communication, show-
ing the amount of money expended to have been $482,358.60,
and that the sum required to finish would be $200,000, of which
$150,000 would be required in 1833. A list of contracts for fur-
nishing materials and prices of work, together with the names and
salaries of persons employed, was also furnished.

CHAPTER XI.

FIRST REGULAR MEETING HELD IN NEW ALMSHOUSE.

OCTOBER arrived, bnt the buildings were not in condition
to be occupied. On the 21st of that month, in reply to
an inquiry of the Guardians, the Commissioners stated
that it would require $170,000 more to complete the
buildings, and gave notice that they had drawn on the Board for
$50,000.

The Guardians requested the Commissioners to furnish them
with the original estimates of the cost of the buildings, the amount
expended and the sum required to finish them. The Commis-
sioners replied, November 4th, that the original estimate for the
erection of the buildings was $320,000.00 ; the amount expended
was $579,829.46, and the amount yet required to complete them
was $170,000.00.

The Guardians gave notice that they would remove all the
paupers to the new Almshouse between the ist and loth of April,
1834. The visitors of the poor districts were directed to report the
names of their out-door paupers who now receive regular relief,
designating those who are willing to go intD the new Almshouse
and those who refuse to go.

A committee was appointed to consider the propriety of estab-
lishing two omnibuses to run between the Exchange and the new
Almshouse, and also to inquire from the Bridge Company' as to
what arrangements, with regard to toll, could be made with them,

April passed, but the paupers were not removed. On June
i6th the Guardians again asked as to the time required to finish
the buildings and whether arrangements could be made to hasten
their completion.

On June 23, 1834, Mr. Hemphill made the following report,
which was accepted :

" Agreeably to the resolution of the Board, passed on the 15th
iust., the Treasurer makes report in relation to the loans as fol-

127

128 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

lows : ' The yfr^Y proposal for a loan of $100,000 was published in
1829, ^^^t brought forth no offers, except a private letter to the
Treasurer from Stephen Girard, Esq., who offered to take $25,000
at par, which was accepted by the Board, and the money was
received in January, 1829. O^ ^^^ residue of this loan $44,000
were sold at par, $5,600 at 1 per cent, premium, and $25,400 at 3^
per cent, premium, making principal $100,000, premium, $945 ;
total, $100,945.00. This loan is redeemable in 1836 ; interest
payable January and July at 5 per cent., $5,000 per annum.

"The second loan was for $150,000, redeemable in 1840; it
commenced in 1830. Proposals were advertised for, but with little
effect, as only $25,000 of it were disposed of, and at par, up to
July, and it was not until October, 1831, that the loan was filled,
different amounts having been disposed of at intervals until the
close, at 4 per cent, premium. Thus there was at par $25,000, at
4 per cent, premium $125,000; premium, $5,000; total, $155,000.
Interest payable Januar}^ and Jul}^ at 5 per cent., $7,500 per
annum.

" The third loan was disposed of by the Finance Committee
to Thomas Biddle & Co. at 10 per cent, premium, between March
and August, 1832, redeemable in 1850 for $100,000 at 10 per cent,
premium, $110,000. Interest payable January and July, at 5 per
cent., $5,000.

"The foiirtJi loan was commenced in August, 1832, and was
disposed of to Thomas Biddle & Co. at 10 per cent, premium, and
was received in various amounts as required between that period
and April, 1833. ^^ is redeemable in i860. The principal is
$100,000; premium, $10,000; total, $110,000. Interest payable
January and July, at 5 per cent., $5,000 per annum.

" The ^y/// loan was for $100,000, and was disposed of to
different persons, in 1833, ^^ a premium of 8 per cent. It is
redeemable in 1863. Principal, $100,000; premium, $8,000; total,
$108,000.

"The sixtJi loan commenced later in the year 1833, and was
designed to be for $100,000. Of this sum, however, only $75,000
have been actually disposed of, the residue being considered as

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

129

appropriated to meet the note given to Mr. Trotter, due about this
time for copper. Of the $75,000, $42,500 have been disposed of at
par, and $32,500 at ij^ per cent, premium, $32,987.50. Reserved
to meet the note of Mr. Trotter, $25,000. Total, $100,487.50.
This loan is redeemable in 1865. Interest payable in January and
July, $5,000 per annum.

Recapitulation.

Loau No. I

Redeemable 1836 .
" 1840

1850
i860
1863
1865 .

Total Loans . .
Total Premiums

fioo,ooo . .
150,000 . .
100,000 . .
100,000 . ,
100,000 . .
ico,oco . .

j;6;o,ooo .
334,432 50

Premium,

$945 00

5,000 00

10,000 00

8,000 00

487 50

134,432 50

Total 684,432 50

" The interest already paid or accruing, to be paid on the ist
of July next :

On No. I

3
4
5
6

1836 I24.510 38

1840 24,213 85

1850 12,125 00

i860 10,000 00

1863 2,500 00

•^65 1,595 61-

Total interest to July, 1834

Less tbe sum received from Thomas I>iddle & Co. for interest while
sums were in their hands

174,944 84
13,820 12

571,124 72

"The semi-annual payment of interest will be, after the ist of
July next, $16,250.00."

Respectfully submitted,

John Hemphill, Treasurer.

June 23d, 1S34.

On June 30th, 1834, the following preamble and resolution
were passed by the Guardians :

"Whereas, The Board of Commissioners for the erection of
the new Almshouse have failed in making their quarterly state-
ment, required by law, therefore,
9

130 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

''''Resolved^ That this Board will not authorize any further
loans until a satisfactory statement be given for the omission,"

On July 7th, 1834, it was resolved that the Furnishing Com-
mittee be requested to have the manager's and steward's apart-
ments of the new Almshouse fitted up during the present week.
It was also

" Resolved^ That we commence moving on Monday next, at
nine o'clock.

" Resolved^ That a Committee of the whole Board be a Com-
mittee to oversee the removal.

" Resolved^ That the Commissioners be requested to inform the
Board at what time they will be able to deliver for occupancy the
Almshouse, (eastern building) Hospital and Outhouses."

Dr. Harlan appeared before the Board and presented the fol-
lowing resolutions of the Board of Physicians.

" Resolved^ That in the opinion of th.e Medical Board, who re-
cently visited the New Almshouse, it is expedient to remove, as
soon as practicable, the occupants of the present house to their
future abode, the latter being fully prepared for their reception ;
and further,

" Resolved^ That they highly approve of tbe project to devote
a portion of the extensive grounds attached to the New Almshouse
to the establishment of a Medico-Botanical Garden, and would sug-
gest that in order to make it practically useful to the students,
the patients and the profession generally, it will be necessary to
place its permanent superintendence in the hands of a scientific
Botanist, who for a moderate annual salary would furnish occa-
sional practical lessons to the students attending the practice of
the house."

At a special meeting, held July i6th, 1834, Mr. Hemphill, of
the Finance Committee, reported that they had an offer from
Messrs. Biddle for $25,000 loan at sixty days with interest, at par,
and that the Bank of United States had agreed to discount a
note for $10,000, on a deposit of stock, which was approved.

The following resolutions were adopted :

" Resolved^ It is expedient that the order of removal adopted

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 131

by this Board on Monday last be so amended as to give discretion-
ary power to the Committees on Removal to make such alterations
as they may deem necessary.

" Resolved^ That the Board be and is hereby divided into three
committees of four members each, to be denominated Removal
Committees, two of which go off each day, the two that have been
on the previous day to divide themselves, so as one of each will be
at each house.

" Resolved^ That no permits for liberty be granted during the
time taken up in removing, and that no discharge be granted to
any of the inmates of the house that are known to be of intem-
perate habits.

" Resolved^ That previous to the removal of any Ward twenty-
four hours' notice shall be given to the paupers, that they may
make preparations ; the Steward or Matron (as the case may be) shall
take care that the paupers shall have their breakfasts before they
start and every arrangement shall be made for their reception in
the New Almshouse in such way as to give them beds and their
regular meals.

" That the hours of removal shall be between 6 o'clock a. .m.
and 12 M., and that not more than loo shall be removed in one day.

" That two cooks shall be detailed for service in the new house.

" Resolved^ That the IVIatron remove to the New Almshouse
to-morrow."

The committees were :
I. Messrs. Fraley, 2. Messrs. Day, 3. Messrs. Hemphill,

Hansen, Woolf, Keefe,

Earp, Lancaster, Keyser,

Burden. Jones. Smith.

July 28th, 1834, it was
" Resolved^ That the President of the Board inform the County
Commissioners that after Saturday next the Board will cease to
occup}' the office on Chestnut street.

" Resolved, That the office of the Board of Guardians shall be
established at the Spruce Street Almshouse."

" Resolved^ That the President cause public notice to be given

132 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

in the daily papers of the occupancy of the New Almshouse and
the removal of the office."

" Adjourned to proceed over Schuylkill to meet in the New
Almshouse."

The first regularly organized meeting of the Board in the
New Almshouse, was held on the aSth day of July, 1834, four years,
two months and two days from the time of laying the corner stone.
The census of the house at time of removal was 604 men, 407
women and 70 children, a total of 108 1.

At the meeting held August i8th, 1834, notice was received
of a legacy of $5000 from Mrs. Esther Waters and the Finance
Committee was directed to invest the amount in such manner as
was deemed best.

It was ordered that the Almshouse on Spruce street should be
opened to receive " those of the colored population who have left
their homes in consequence of the riots in the lower parts of the
cit}^ and districts."

On complaint of a member of the Board and the Steward
agaiust Dr. John B. Calhoun for a violation of the rules of the
house in relation to the examination of the dead, the doctor ap-
peared before the Board, and, after he was heard, the following
resolution was adopted :

" Resolved, That Dr. John B. Calhoun be requested to tender
his resignation to the Board as one of the resident physicians of the
Almshouse."

On September 8th, 1834, it was

" Resolved, That a road in as direct a route as possible shall be
laid out and opened immediately from the landing to the Alms-
house and from the Almshouse to the Darby Road, and the Com-
mittee of the House be requested to attend to the construction of
said road."

The Children's Asylum was not ready to be occupied, and as
the old building in which they were quartered would require ex-
tensive repair, the Guardians urged the Commissioners to finish the
building intended for that purpose as quickly as possible.

On September 29th, 1834, it was resolved that the Board would

History of Philadelpliia Alinslimises and Hospitals. 133

offer for sale the materials and buildings on the Spruce street
grounds at public auction, on the first IMonday in November, and
will offer for sale the square bounded by Spruce and Pine streets
and by Tenth and Eleventh streets, on .the second Monday of
November next, at public auction, notice to be given in the public
papers.

On the day appointed the Committee on Sale of Lots reported
the terms of sale : " One-third cash, one-third in one year, and the
remaining third in two years, secured by 1)ond and mortgage in
the usual way, with interest. If required, after the first pa3'ment
is made, sixty feet front, running from Spruce to Pine streets, will
be released to purchaser, possession to be given in all in February.
The buildings and wall to be excluded from the sale of the ground."

Mr. Smith moved to limit the price to be taken for the lot to
$115,000. Mr. Day proposed $120,000 and Mr. Hansell suggested
$125,000. ]\Ir. Hansell's sum was agreed to.

The ground was knocked down to IMr. Richard Smethurst
for the sum of $126,000, but he failed to pay the first install-
ment. Mr. Charles I. Wolbert was the auctioneer who conducted
the sale.

x-Vfter much deliberation it was determined to again advertise
the lot for sale, upon the same terms and conditions as the former
sale.

When the committee called upon Air. Wolbert to instruct him
to advertise and sell the lot, they learned from him that if the
ground was not sold at the second sale he should expect commis-
sions on the first sale from the Guardians, but if it was sold at the
second sale he would ask but one commission. The committee
referred the matter to the Board for further instructions. In their
report they said : " After due consideration of 3-our committee
they were at loss to know how to act without further instructions.
If the lot is offered and we become the purchasers the question
then arises whether we do not release ]Mr. Smethurst, and if sold
for a less price than last time then the question is, whether we can
get the difference from Mr. Smethurst. In either case we are liable
for the commissions,"

134: History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

Mr. Hemphill moved that the committee wait on Mr. Freeman
and arrange with him for selling the lot. Mr. Keyser offered as a
substitute that the committee wait on Mr. Wolbert and " say to
him that the Board is ready to pay him the commission whenever
he hands over the purchase money."

No definite action was taken until Febrtiary 19th, 1835. It
was then resolved " that the terms of sale should be one-quarter
cash in ten days, one-quarter payable January ist, 1836, one-quarter
payable January ist, 1837, ^^^ one-quarter payable Jantiary ist,
1838, secured in the usual way, or, if more convenient to the pur-
chaser, any sum not less than $20,000 will be received at any time
on account of the Bonds, upon giving fifteen days notice to the
Board of Guardians.

^'' Resolved, Unanimously, that the lot be limited to $128,000."

The committee reported that the lot was offered for sale on
19th instant at the Philadelphia Exchange, but was not sold.

It was resolved that a committee of three be appointed who
shall be authorized to dispose of the Almshouse Square at a price
not less than $130,000.

On March 2d, 1835, the committee reported that the lot had
been sold to Mr. A. D. Cash for $130,000. Mr. Cash paid $30,000
and gave the bond of Charles F. Lex and John Gregg, payable to
the order of the Guardians of the Poor for $100,000, with a mort-
gage to secure the pa^nnent on January ist, 1836.

The Coiumissioners for Erecting the New Almshouse passed
a resolution, on April 27th, 1835, ^^ notify the Guardians of the
Poor that they " now surrender to them the entire possession of the
House of Employment and Women's Almshouse,'' together with
the policies of Insurance.

Notice was given by the Guardians that in accordance with
the act of May 5th, 1828, that from and after the ist of July, 1835?
no relief, other than temporary, shall be granted to the out-door
poor, and said relief be confined entirely to fuel, provisions, cloth-
ing, medical attendance and medicines.

Mr. Wolbert, auctioneer, was paid $714.00 for commissions
and expenses attending the sale of the old Almshouse lot.

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 135

Mr. Thomas Mitchell bought the old Children's Asylum on
Fifth street for $15,000, June lytli, 1S35, ^^<^ ^^^^ children were
removed to the new Almshouse.

The Commissioners had erected four distinct buildings at right
angles with each other, inclosing a space of about 700 feet by 500
feet. They were located near the southern line of the property, at
about 1,500 feet from the river. The main building fronted on a
road, now known as Vintage Avenue, which runs northeast and
southwest. This location secured plenty of air and a beautiful
outlook.

Scharff & Westcott's history says : "The main building con-
tained a portico 90 feet front, supported by eight columns in the
Tuscan order, built of brick and rough cast, and was flanked by
two wings, each 200 feet in length. The portico, being elevated on
a high flight of steps rising beyond the basement story to those of
the principal story, gave to this group of buildings a commanding
appearance."

Early pictures show steps extending across the whole front of
this portico, similar to those on the United States Custom House
on Chestnut Street. That would make it appear as though the
main entrance was on the second floor. It will be noticed that the
description quoted speaks of the lower story as the " basement,"
and the second as the principal story. It is not so now, as the
porch extends to the front and makes room for an entrance and two
offices on the first floor. There are two lines of steps, one on each
side of the offices.

The Men's Almshouse was located in the wings of this build-
ing, the center being appropriated for dining rooms, clothes room
and offices on the first floor, and for the offices of the Board and
Superintendent on the second. The Doctor's dining-room, kitchen,
etc., are located in the rear of the third. The rest of that floor,
together with the attic, is used as apartments for the Superintend-
ent and the domestics required in that part of the House.

The Women's Almshouse was directly opposite the depart-
ment for males, running parallel to it on the northwestern side of
the quadrangle.

136 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

At right angles to these buildings, starting at about lOO feet
beyond the ends of them, were located, the Hospital on one side
and the House of Employment on the other. The four main
structures were about 500 feet in length and 60 feet in depth.
Stone walls connected the buildings, so that the interior space was
inclosed. Streets, walks, courtyards, etc., were provided within
the inclosure, for the accommodation of the inmates, and the
departments were separated by walls supplied with large gates,
on the line of the streets, to admit of the passage of wagons,
carts, etc.

The interior of the Almshouses was arranged to have two tiers
of small rooms or cells in each ward, so that each inmate would
have a private sleeping room. This was the dormitory plan that
was recommended by the steward of the New York Almshouse and
which caused much discussion, the altering of the plans, the halt-
ing of the work and additional expense for construction.

These little " cubbies " were built on the side of the wards,
one tier over the other ; were only about six feet deep and five feet
wide ; were not properly ventilated, became dirt holes and had a
decidedly foul smell after a few years' use.

A ferry was established to carry passengers across the Schuyl-
kill from South Street on the City side to the wharf on the Alms-
house grounds, A large batteaux was used for this purpose and a
small fare was charged for the service. This was a great conveni-
ence for the down town people, as it saved the trip up to the bridge
at Market Street.

A bank had been constructed around the river front to protect
the meadow land ; sluice gates were placed in the bank, to be
opened at high tide in the winter season, to flood the meadow for
the purpose of obtaining a crop of ice for the use of the institution.

The grounds were inclosed by a wooden fence, and the main
entrance was on Darby Road (now Woodland Avenue). A small
house was erected close by the gate, in which the gatekeeper
resided.

The graveyard was located in the northeastern portion of the
grounds. It was inclosed and was under the charge of the ferry-

'History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 137

man. It was the cause of much scandal in connection with the
history of the Almshouse and the " Board of Buzzards," as the
Guardians were at one time termed.

The large stone barn and farm house were erected on a high
plot of ground in 1S36, at a cost of $10,000. The farm house has
been used as a children's asylum for a few years, while the old
barn had to be removed to accommodate the University of Penn-
sylvania a short time ago.

A school room was fitted up in the southeastern end of the
Hospital building for the use of the children. It was upon the
plan of the infant schools of the city ; teachers were employed,
and the reports say : " The children have made as much progress
in learning as could reasonably be expected from pupils under
similar circumstances."

On February 6th, 1837, ^^^ Commissioners informed the
Guardians that they had actually paid on account of the erection
of the new Almshouse, ...... $845,088.30

Paid for the Farm, ...... 51,716.94

" on account of Guardians during Cholera, . 1,166.32

*' Interest on Copper Bill, .... 2,016.44

$899,988.00
Yet due on Bills rendered, . . . . 2,182.10

$902,170.10

They could not state the amount that would be required to
finish the work.

The first steward of " Blockley," as the institution was gener-
ally called, was Mr. William S. Stockton. In November, 1836,
the Board advertised for applicants to fill the position, but they did
not succeed in finding a suitable person ; so Mr. Stockton was
retained, although he was not satisfactory to the Board. ]\Irs.
Sibbert was the first Matron elected.

The name Blockley Almshouse was usually applied to the
establishment. There are many people who do not know that it
took that name because it was located in Blockle}^ Township. An
old woman went to the House, under the influence of liquor, one

138 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

evening a few years ago. She wanted to be admitted to the Hos-
pital, but the doctor who examined her found that she did not
require any medical treatment and refused to assign her to the
sick wards. She became very indignant and exclaimed very loudly,
*' I'd have you to know that Mr. Blockley left his money for the

benefit of us poor people and not for a lot of you d doctors and

the white caps." She applied the term " white caps " to the nurses
in the Hospital, and it is evident that she thought that " Mr.
Blockley " was a man something like Stephen Girard.

CHAPTER XII.

HOW BLOCKLEV GOT ITS NAME.

IN connection with the name, it may be of interest to state how
the township got the name. An article published in a news-
paper many 3^ears ago stated :

" The iirst white settler west of the Schuylkill and within
the limits of the present city of Philadelphia was Air. William
Warner. This gentleman was a captain in the army of Oliver
Cromwell. He was a zealous and devoted friend of the Lord Pro-
tector and particularly obnoxious to the ro3'alists. After the death
of Cromwell in 1658 and the restoration of the Stuarts, Warner
was compelled to fly from his native country in order to save his
head. The American wilderness was then the principal refuge of
the hunted lovers of liberty, and hither the Puritan captain was
glad to escape.

" Before the arrival of Captain Warner, the onl}^ white set-
tlers who had penetrated to the region of the Schuylkill were the
adventurous Swedes. Warner pitched his tent on the west bank of
the Schuylkill, in the vicinity of the present Girard Avenue bridge
or a little north of that localit3^ The precise spot cannot now be
determined ; but it is certain that the Captain obtained possession
of an extensive tract of land in that beautiful " wild," to which he
gave the name of " Blockley," in memory of the happj^ home in
England which he was compelled to desert. Twenty-four v'ears
elapsed after the arrival of Warner before the emigrants who came
to settle Pennsylvania under the grant to William Penn reached
the vicinity of the Puritan soldier's cabin. Two years afterward
(1684), William Penn conlirmed the title of Captain Warner to the
land he occupied.

"' For twenty years the old soldier was alone in the wilderness ,
or, rather, he was the solitar}' white man who resided there and
conmiunicated to the Indians ideas of the races and civilizations
be3'ond the sea.

139

140 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

*' It is to be regretted tliat we have no record of his mode of
life, his adventures, and his strange experience in his woodland
home before the advent of the Quaker colonists.

'' Subsequent to that event Captain Warner became possessed
of great wealth and obtained social and political influence. He
took an active part in organizing the first provincial government
of Pennsylvania, served as a justice of the court and was elected a
member of the first Assembly chosen under the rule of Governor
William Penn.

" Captain Warner died at his residence in Blockley in the year
1706, and was greatly lamented. He retained and exercised the
stern virtues of the Puritans throughout his career, was energetic
and determined in the maintenance of his convictions and com-
manded respect by the strength and purity of his character.

" During the latter part of his life he expressed his approval
of the peace principles of the Society of Friends.

" A number of the descendants of the captain still reside upon
the land which their ancestor acquired, but few or none of them
bear his name. Some of his descendants may be found in Bucks
County. If the material for a full biography could be collected
the life of the pioneer of the Schuylkill would be a most remarka-
ble contribution to our local histor3^ Our sketch is merely to
explain the origin of Blockley."

When the new Almshouse and House of Employment had
been erected at such cost it was deemed necessary to utilize the
pauper labor at the earliest moment, and arrangements were made
accordingly. The Committee reported in August, 1836, that the
profits of the factory during a single quarter reached the sum of
$549.20. The report further said : " Your Committee would
remark, that if their exertions to compel all males and females in
this institution to work, who may be capable of working, were
seconded by the Hospital and House Committees, as well' as by the
steward and matron, the just expectations of the public, of produc-
ing beneficial results by the establishment of an extensive House
of Employment will not be disappointed, and our lazy, intemperate
vagrants and paupers will become convinced by experience that an

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 141

Almshouse is no place in which they will any longer be permitted
to indulge their idle, vicious habits, and that it is just as easy to
work in mechanics' shops in the City and Liberties and enjoy their
liberty, as it is to be confined within these walls and be compelled
to work in our factory."

At this time the question of dependent foreigners was a very
serious one ; the Almshouses throughout the country were bur-
dened with them, and the United States authorities attempted to
correct the abuse. Hon. Levi Woodbury, Secretary of the Trea-
sury, communicated with the Boards of Guardians and Overseers
of the Poor in reference to the deportation of paupers from foreign
countries.

The Guardians, through a committee, made a thorough exam-
ination of the inmates of the Almshouse and endeavored to get
some proofs to substantiate the charge that they had been sent to
this country by the authorities of their homes.

That is a useless task. It is impossible to get a pauper of
that kind to tell the truth about the matter. They are afraid of
being sent back. It was the case then, is so now, and probably
will always be so.

In reply to his inquiries the Board sent to Mr. Woodbury the
following report, made to the Guardians by their committee, under
date of November, 1836:

" Your committee report that, having caused an examination
to be made of the foreign paupers in the House, they have not
been able to ascertain that an}^ had been sent to this country or to
the British provinces by Overseers of the Poor in England or else-
where, or had received any aid from any parish to enable them to
emigrate.

"The only information having any relation to the subject of
inquiry derived from their examination is, that the practice of
sending away paupers chargeable to parishes, by parochial aid, is
quite common in England, and that many have been sent in that
way. This practice, however, as far as they profess to be informed,
is confined to emigration to the British settlements.

" Your committee would here remark that there is great diffi-

142 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

culty in procuring from a pauper any information which might
affect himself, and that, should there be in the House any person
who had been sent, either to this country or the British settlements,
by parochial aid, the apprehension that he would be discharged
from the House upon the fact being known, would induce him to
conceal it. The reports of the Poor Law Commissioners of Eng-
land furnish some information as to the deportation of paupers
from that country. In the instructions of these Commissioners to
their agents in different districts, the attention of those agents is
particularly directed to emigration as one mode of relieving the
parishes of their superabundant poor population, and thereby
reducing the poor rates. They speak of emigration generally, and
do not confine it to the British settlements.

" So, in some of the reports made by these agents to the Com-
missioners, deportation of paupers, by means of parochial aid, is
mentioned as having taken place, without naming the country to
which they have been sent.

" In some reports the British provinces in North America are
mentioned as their places of destination, and from one report it
appears that four families had been sent from the parish of Rye to
New York.

" These reports comprise but few of the parishes of England
and Wales, not more than two hundred parishes out of fifteen
thousand ; and therefore, while they establish the fact that paupers
have been sent from England to the United States, as well as to
the British settlements, they do not show the extent to which this
practice may have prevailed in that kingdom.

" From the examination made of the inmates of the House,
the committee have ascertained that one guinea was paid to each of
the paupers brought by one vessel to Quebec, upon their landing at
that place ; that in some instances one hundred acres of land were
offered to each of the paupers, which offer the majority of them
declined. In other instances no provision was made for their sup-
port, and they subsequently found their wa}^ into the United States.

" Among the paupers in this House there are several persons
who have been pensioners of the government of Great Britain,

o
o
•c

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 14-5

and their being in this country is attributable partly to the agency
of that government."

The conditions in those days were about the same as they are
now. There have always been more foreigners supported in the
Almshouses than Americans, and so long as the passage costs less
than the continual support, just that long will other countries
endeavor to dump their paupers on American shores.

The Board of Guardians consisted of Messrs. George W.
Jones, John Hemphill, William S. Hansell, John Price Wetherill,
Isaac N. Marselis, Peter A. Keyser, John L. Wool}^, Michael Day,
John Keefe, Isaac Collins, Bela Badger and Joseph B. Smith.

These were all well known citizens and commanded the respect
of the community.

It is very pleasant to find that after all the misunderstandings
and fault-finding, the labors of the '' Commissioners for Erecting
Buildings for the Accommodation of the Poor " ended in the most
pleasant manner, on the 2Sth day of August, 1837, ^^^ ^^^^ records
show the high regard that the two Boards entertained for each
other.

Mr. B. W. Keyser, President of the Commissioners, sent a
communication to the Board of Guardians informing that body that
" They had fulfilled the duties of their appointment in the erection
of the Buildings for the Accommodation of the Poor, and to the
best of their ability completed everything delegated to them under
the Law whence they derive their power.

" That they hereby resign their functions and have agreed to
dissolve the Board, not, however, without expressing the hope
that they have the entire approbation of the Board of Guardians
of the Poor for their best endeavors.

" That the accounts and vouchers they most cheerfully submit
for the examination of the Board at any moment they ma}^ desire
them.

" That he is further instructed to return the thanks of the
members to the Board of Guardians of the Poor for their cordial
co-operation at all times during the progress of the work, and for
the gentlemanly deportment experienced at their hands."

144 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

After the communication was read at the meeting of the
Guardians, it was unanimously resolved " That the President of
this Board be requested to notify the Commissioners that their
resignations are accepted, and also to convey to the said Building
Commissioners the thanks of this Board for the attention they
have bestowed to the duties entrusted to them."

The Commissioners had performed their labors ; they had
been in existence nine years, althougii many changes had taken
place in its membership since its organization. Only four of the
original twelve remained on the Board, one having died and seven
having resigned.

No suspicion of jobbery or peculation was ever attached to the
proceedings of the Commissioners ; no desire was ever expressed
for their abolition. They did their work on a grand scale, and
Philadelphia received, as the result of their labors, one of the best
and most commodious Almshouses that could be found in the United
States at that period.

When it is considered that these buildings were erected to ac-
commodate the people of only a portion of the county of Philadel-
phia it will be seen that they were sufi&ciently large for the purpose.

The other districts and townships in the county were com-
pelled to rely upon the Overseer system of relief, or else build alms-
houses for their own use. Several districts pursued that course.

" The Directors of the Poor and of the House of Employ
mentfor the Townships of Oxford and Lower Dublin, of Philadel-
phia County," were given authority under the Act of April nth,
1807, to establish an Almshouse, and a farm of 145 acres was pur-
chased and buildings were erected for the purpose.

A corporation was created in 1809, entitled " The Managers
for the Relief and Employment of the Poor of the Township of
Germantown in the County of Philadelphia."

A lot of ground containing 20 acres was purchased and an
Almshouse was established.

The " Guardians of the Poor of Bristol Township " were in-
corporated in 1823, with authority to purchase ground and to erect
a " Poorhouse."

History of Philadeli)hia Almshouses and Hospitals. 145

The Township of Roxborough was authorized * to build a
" Poorhoiise " in 1837. The Borough of Manayunk was united
with the Township, and the Almshouse grounds embraced 20 acres.

Moyamensing also established an Almshouse, in the early part
of the century, on Irish Tract Lane, below the present Fitzwater
street. The buildings were of brick and several acres of ground
were enclosed.

The report of the Auditing Committee showed :

Amount paid to order of Commissiouers $909>733 38

" expended — P"or purchase of ground S'!?'^ 94

" " " erection of buildings . . . . • 857,969 75

" of total expenditures 909,686 69

" Unexpended balance returned • 46 69

Stone quarried by paupers —

5741 cubic yards, used on roads, (5/75 4.305 75

1500 perch, used in Barn and Walls, @/ 88 ^,320 00

Stone used for other purposes, valued at 1,500 00

Total valuation |7,i25 75

The collection of " Head money" on arriving emigrants was
an important item of the receipts of the Board of Guardians. This
was collected under the authority of Law, and was, in a manner,
an insurance against the emigrants becoming dependent upon
charity. Prior to 1832 the amount collected was $2.50 per head;
it was then reduced to $1.50 on each one arriving. The owners
and consignees of the ships that brought them frequently endeav-
ored to evade the payment of this tax, and suits were entered
against them in consequence. One case that caused considerable
discussion was that of " The Guardians of the Poor I'ejsus The
Master, Owners and Consignees of the ship St. Cloud." A writ
was issued, claiming $14,100 as the amount of penalties due to the
Board, aud the Sheriff took possession of the ship.

The consignees entered bonds, signed b}^ Samuel Grant, Dex-
ter Stone and George Fales, for the payment of any penalties that
might be adjudged against them.

The testimony showed that the ship was entered at Wilming-
ton, Del., although no part of the cargo was intended to be deliv-
ered there, and a portion was intended for and consigned to a mer-
10

146 History of Philadelphia Ahnshouses and Hospitals.

chant in Philadelphia. The ship without actually entering the
port of Wilmington, breaking bulk, or securing the duties on the
cargo there, proceeded to Philadelphia.

The " Head money" on i88 passengers was paid to the Trus-
tees of the Poor at Wilmington, and a license given to land the
passengers at that place. All the passengers, however, were not
landed ; neither were they at any time in Wilmington or its vicin-
ity ; they were received on a steamboat from the ship lying in the
Delaware River.

They were then taken to Quarryville, a place on the river a
few miles from Wilmington, where they stopped a few minutes,
and were then transported to Philadelphia. The steamboat was
unable to take all of the passengers upon the one trip ; the remain-
der were taken on the down run and conveyed to Wilmington, not
for the purpose of landing them, but to remain a short time, so as
to run them up to Philadelphia and land them at nighty as the
others had been landed.

The consignors proposed a compromise, which was accepted by
the Board, and the case was settled.

The records showed the amounts collected were :

For year ending May, 1829, ^6,457. 50

1830, 4,217.50

1831, 9,544.50

1832, 9,129.50

1833, 5,248.50

1834, 3,988.00

1835, 4,63500

1836, 2,533-50

1837, 3,^74-50

Making a total iu nine years 148,928.50

John Sergeant, Esq., Solicitor, was asked for his opinion as to
the construction of the Act of Assembly in regard to the " Head
money " on foreign emigrants. He replied that he thought the
" Guardians could elect between imposing a tax of two dollars and
a half upon each passenger and taking security that such passenger
would not become chargeable."

The minute books show some very queer cases that were
referred to the Board of Guardians for consideration. In fact,

History of Pliiladelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 147

women would " throw themselves on the Guardians of the Poor ''
for satisfaction and redress under some peculiar circumstances.

The following report of one of the committees will serve to
illustrate the character of some of their little schemes.

The communication of John Enhart, charged by Eliza Worl
with being the father of a child of which she had been delivered,
had been referred to a committee, and the report said : " The said
Eliza Worl is a married woman, with a family of children and a
husband in the United States service, and who was at that time
stationed at the Lazaretto, and who was in the constant practice of
coming to see her, all of which facts she states herself; and your
committee are of opinion that it would be very difficult to convict a
man of being the father of a child by a married woman under such
circumstances ; and that it would be improper at all times to take
any action that would encourage married women to charge other
men than their husbands of being the fathers of au}^ children they
may have ; and that this Board ought at all times discourage all
proceedings that would bastardize the children of married people ;
and inasmuch as Eliza Worl has acknowledged that her husband
was in the habit of visiting her, the child is as likely to be his as
any other person's."

The Board declined to take any action in the matter. As there
is nothing said of any movement on the part of the " injured hus-
band," it might be inferred that he was in a conspiracy with his
virtuous wife to extort money from the victim of the plot.

The panic of 1837 reduced tho,usands of persons from affluence
to poverty, and but for the Almshouse and the relief extended by
the Guardians of the Poor, many would have starved. Workmen
could not obtain employment and much suffering was the result.
The charitable nature of those who could assist by contributions
was again made manifest, and mau}^ were helped without the cases
being made public.

On July 2d, 1S3S, the Board of Guardians received a commu-
nication from the Commissioners of the Township of Moyameu-
sing, expressing the opinion of that Board, " That any arrange-
ment the parties interested can agree upon, by which the Poor laws

148 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

of the County of Philadelphia can be made general, equal and uni-
form, and the poor of this Township be united with those of the
City and. the Districts interested in the Almshouse at Blockley,
would be greatly beneficial to the Township and to the citizens of
Philadelphia generally." They notified the Guardians that they
had appointed a committee to wait upon them to arrange for a
conference in relation to the subject.

In August, 1839, it was discovered that it cost no less than
$10,000 per annum to maintain the table for the Steward and the
Resident Physicians. The Guardians were astounded, and resolu-
tions were adopted to abolish that expensive supply and to make
an addition to the Steward's salary of $500 per annum in lieu
thereof. The Resident Physicians paid the sum of $250 for the
privilege of serving in the Hospital for the term of one year. It
was now changed to $125, and to pay for their board $50. They
were compelled to board outside of the institution for a short time
after the discovery of the cost was made.

A committee was appointed to inquire into the manner in
which meats had been issued during the year, under the super-
vision of the Steward, and it was found that no less than fifty-four
thousand pounds of meats were unaccounted for.

The committee reported : " That, after a tedious and careful
examination of the Steward's statements, and making the most
liberal allowances that could reasonably be claimed, by adding the
largest number of men, at the longest period that said men were
employed, the whole amounting to 704 persons, who were 13 10
days receiving extra rations, and, if deducted from the true census,
leaves 622 persons entitled to ordinary rations. The accompany-
ing account current, made from above statement, shows a deficiency
of 54,52354^ pounds of meats for the past year, after deducting
four per cent, for draft, amounting to 10,657 pounds, allowing for
bones, sixty pounds per week, or 3120 pounds per annum.

" The committee further report, that in the statements number
3 and 4, it is shown by the Steward that 9795 pounds of meat were
used more than were used during the preceding year, and the com-
mittee are satisfied that the population was 112 less than during

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 149

the previous fiscal year. The}^ take the census from an examina-
tion of the books. The above 112 persons, by an equal average,
would be entitled to 13,104 pounds of meat during the year, which
being added to the 9795 pounds, makes the aggregate of 22,899
pounds, this being the excess of meats used during the last over
the preceding year,"

Shortly after this report was made, the time to elect the Stew-
ard and other officials arrived. Six members voted for the re-elec-
tion of Mr. Stockton, as Steward, and it seemed as if they were
determined to sustain him whether he was right or wrong.

A number of ballots were taken, and, as no person received a
majority of the votes, it was found to be impossible to elect a Stew-
ard at that meeting, and the old Steward was instructed by a reso-
lution to continue to perform the duties of the office until a suc-
cessor could be elected.

The gentlemen who voted for Mr. Stockton were John Price
Wetherill, Peter A, Keyser, William S. Hansell, John Keefe,
Michael Andress and John Hemphill, and as they were all citizens
of standing in the community there must have been some reason
for their action, although it was not explained in the minutes.
Mr. Stockton continued to serve four years under the resolution,
notwithstanding there was strong opposition to his continuance
during all that time. The Guardians did not succeed in electing a
Steward until 1843, when Mr. Daniel Smith w^as chosen for the
position.

CHAPTER XIIl.

SECRETARY AND TREASURER DEFAULTERS— REPORT ON CAUSE OF

PAUPERISM.

A SUPPLEMENT to the Act entitled " An Act for the Relief
and Employment of the Poor of the City of Philadelphia,
the District of Southwark and the Townships of
Northern Liberties *and Penn," was passed and approved
January 15th, 1840.

This repealed so much of the act as prohibited the granting
of outdoor relief in money, under certain conditions. It also re-
pealed the act relating to the appointment and defining the duties
of Directors of Poor Tax, and the Guardians of the Poor were
authorized to " borrow money and levy a poor tax for as much as may
be necessary ; provided, that such tax or assessment shall not exceed
the amount now laid for the relief and employment of the poor."
President J. B. Smith called a special meeting of the Board of
Guardians on January 30th, 1841, at which he made the following
statement : " From an examination of the receipts of emigrant
money, it appears that Mr. Alexander Wentz, the Secretary of this
Board, has neglected to pay over to the Treasurer more than six
thousand dollars received by him during the years 1838, 1839 and
1840; that he had not paid upwards of $500, admitted by him to
have been received from the sale of tickets to the clinical lectures
about the first of last December ; that it had also been discovered
on that very day, that the Secretary had presented to the Bank
and received the money for three checks drawn by the Treasurer,
and left with the Secretary to be delivered to the persons in whose
favor the}^ were drawn. The checks were : One for $600, drawn
payable to the order of John Friend ; one for ^195.25, drawn pay-
able to the order of John Price Wetherill ; and one for $151.00,
also drawn to the order of John Price Wetherill ; that he had called
the meeting at the earliest moment after the discover}'- of these
things for the purpose of taking into considerarion the deficit and
determining upon what measures should be adopted."
150

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 151

The Board directed the solicitor to bring suit forthwith against
Mr. Wentz and his surety ; and summoned the Secretary to appear
before the Board at 9 o'clock on the next morning.

Mr. Wentz appeared as requested, and was asked to explain
the deficit that appeared on his books ; to inform the Board as to
the manner he had disposed of the money he had neglected to turn
over, and which he had drawn from the bank ; and what amount
he had in his possession or under his control. Mr. Wentz made
a statement which appeared to the Board, to be false and contra-
dictor}'-, and the sheriff was instructed to execute forthwith the
capias in his hands. Arrangements were made for pressing the
suit against Air. Wentz and his bondsman, Mr. John L- Wolf, the
solicitor being assisted by William M. Meredith, Esq. New orders
were drawn for the payment of those persons whose checks had
been used by the Secretary, and the official was turned over to the
Court.

Shortl}' after this occurred it was discovered that the trusted
Treasurer of the Board was more than $26,000 short in his accounts.
Suit was immediately entered against him and his surety, and
eventually the Board secured almost the entire sum of his defal-
cation.

It appears that even in the " good old days " some men who
could not resist temptation fell by the waj'side.

The increase in population in the Almshouses was a subject
of much thought and discussion. It was thought that if the causes
of pauperism were known some steps might be taken to check it,
at least, if it could not be entirely halted. To arrive at a full
knowledge to enable those persons interested to successfull}^ grap-
ple with the subject, communications were sent to the various
Boards of Guardians and Overseers of the Poor, requesting
such information as the}- might be able to furnish. In order
to make the proper reply to the inquiries propounded the
Guardians instructed the House agent at " Blockley " to secure
certain data for them, and in compliance with the order he sub-
mitted the following instructive report to the Board on August
2, 1841 :

152 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

" In obedience to the resolution of tiie Board of Guardians
* making it the duty of the House agent to ascertain and report
the number of patipers who have been brought to misfortune by
intemperance and vice,' the agent respectfully reports that
he has attended to the duty assigned him, and has devoted all
the time he could spare from other duties to a personal exami-
nation of the Inmates of the House, throughout the different
wards, that he has availed himself of all the information on
which he could rely, has collected every fact within his reach,
and has endeavored to condense the whole, and now presents
the following summary which he believes to be substantially
correct :

" ' The population of the House may be taken at about 1400,
of which 550 are adult males (not including Lunatics), 470 females,
150 children, 90 Insane males, 98 Insane females, 23 Epileptics
and 24 Idiots.

" ' To commence with the Hospital : Respecting the men's
surgical and syphilitic wards, which together number 86 patients,
it may be said that there is not one temperate person in them, and
that lewdness and intemperance have pauperized them all.

" ' Of the men's medical wards, containing 56 adults, 40 are
now, or have been, intemperate, and are here for that cause. The
remaining 16 are temperate at present.

" ' Of the women's surgical and syphilitic wards, containing
40 patients, only 10 are believed to be temperate. Of the remainder
it may be said that lewdness and intemperance have brought them
to the House.

" ' Of the women's medical wards, containing 60 patients
(including the colored wards) only one-half are temperate, and of
the others it may be said that habits of intemperance formerly
indulged in, either by them or their husbands, have caused their
poverty.

" ' It follows, then, that out of 242 adults, male and female,
sick in the hospital, only 56 can be set down as temperate, and that
habits of lewdness or intemperance, or both, were the causes of
their poverty and suffering.

History of Pliiladelphia Almshouses and Hospitab

Men's and Women's Almshouse.

" ' The various wards of the men's Almshouse, containing 410
adults, have only 48 who can be put down as temperate in their
habits, leaving 362 who are or have been intemperate, and whose
destitution may be traced to that cause.

'"The women's Almshouse contains 184, of whom 40 can be
set down as temperate. It has been ascertained that at least 20
of the remaining 144 are opium caters^ and the rest are intemperate.
Of many of these it should be stated that they are, or have been,
mothers of illegitimate children. Lewdness and intemperate habits,
therefore, may have been the cause of their impoverishment.

" ' The old women's Asylum numbers 150, the great majority
of whom are 2X present decent and orderly, of temperate habits and
correct deportment. It has been ascertained, however, that they
have not alwa3^s been orderly and temperate, their moral condition
having been greatly improved during the last few years, while in
this House. The causes of their misfortune also may be traced
either to irregular habits in themselves or others with whom they
were immediately connected in former years. There are, no doubt,
some exceptions, but their number is not easy to determine. At
present it is believed that 50, or one-third of the whole, are tem-
perate, and that the remainder and at least one-half of the others owe
their present destitution to the causes above stated and 25 to un-
avoidable misfortune. This is decidedl}- the best part of the House.

" ' The men's Lunatic asylum contains at present about 90,
one-half of whom are believed to be temperate.

" ' The women's Lunatic asylum number 98, and about the
same, if not a greater proportion, are and have been of temperate
habits.

" ' Respecting the 150 children in different parts of the House,
it may be said that they are generally the offspring of dissolute and
intemperate parents, who in very many cases were sent to the
county prison while their children were sent to the Almshouse, or
they are orphans, made so by the premature deaths of parents,
occasioned by following vicious courses.

154 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

'' ' In conclusion — If the preceding statements are correct, it
follows that, of the entire adult population, only 330 persons have
any claim to be considered temperate, and that more than one-half
of them have only recently become so, if, indeed, they are reformed.

'' ' The moral character of the inmates of the House has, how-
ever, been gradually improving for the last few years.

" ' The friends of temperance have been exerting a salutary
influence among them, and the amount of moral and religious
instruction, now almost daily afforded, has greatly increased. A
religious association, formed in the house about two years since, is
still in existence and flourishing. It numbered at first about 80
members, one-half of whom left the House and gave proof of their
reformation by maintaining themselves out of it, not having
returned.' " The report was signed by William H. Stewart, Agent.

That document did not speak very highly of the character
of the paupers of that period. It could not be believed that the
inmates of the Almshouse at the present time are of as low a
grade, taken as a whole, as those described, although there are many
just as degraded.

The utter lack of discipline and the mismanagement of the
institution were very apparent during the time that Steward Stock-
ton had charge. There was not a proper supervision of the inter-
nal affairs and the subordinate officials seemed to be allowed to do
as they saw fit. If the Steward possessed the authority he should
have had, and it is to be presumed that he had, the abuses that
existed could not have continued if proper vigilance had been
exercised. There appeared to be entirely too much dependence
placed upon men who were unworthy of it.

Certain discoveries of mismanagement or worse were made in
1842, which, upon investigation, brought forth a report from the
committee, from which the following extracts are quoted :

" Your Committee regret to sa}^ that they have found much to
censure and condemn. It appears from an examination of Mr. A.
S. Hutchinson, Superintendent of Manufactures, he makes no entry
whatever whenever anything is sold by him for cash, but puts the
money in his pocket. A pass is given by him to the person pur-

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 155

chasing, to take the goods out, and, after a lapse of one, two or
three weeks, as the case may be, he takes up the passes, and then
makes an entry in the books himself or directs Mr. Ross, the clerk,
to make one. He (Mr. H.) then destroj^s the passes.

" The Committee may further remark that the general man-
agement is, in mau}^ cases, loose and unjustifiable, and calls loudly
for a more efficient system.

" It appears, from the testimony before the Committee, that
the Superintendent is in the habit of drawing his supplies of flour,
cornmeal, potatoes, tinw^are, shoes, hard and soft soap, tubs, buck-
ets, carpeting, towels and feed for a large stock of chickens and
pigeons, and sometimes goats, and in some instances such articles
as bedspreads and muslin, from the supplies belonging to the insti-
tution, all of which the Committee supposed to be contrary to the
agreement made with him. On his examination, Mr. Hutchinson
first admitted onl}^ that he received flour for pies when there was
good flour in the mill, but afterwards, on a close examination, he
admitted that he drew all his flour at all times from the mill, when
there was any flour in it, stating that he believed he had been
authorized to do so by Mr. Keefe, and also believed that it was
done with the knowledge of the present Committee. He also
stated that he bought his potatoes, except that he might have
received a peck or a half-peck or some small quantity of them.
This assertion he reiterated on the question being put to him a
second or third time, so that he might fully understand its
import.

" The Committee are constrained to say, from the testimou}^ of
Captain Kelly, who has charge of the potatoes, that Mr. Hutchin-
son is in the constant habit of receiving from him his supplies by
the bag full whenever there are potatoes for distribution in the
House. This is confirmed b}^ three other witnesses who have
knowledge of the deliveries.

" Finding Mr. Hutchinson so uncandid in his denial of a fact
so well established before the Committee, they have little confidence
in his denial of many other things which have been well estab-
lished before them, and they are induced to believe, from the gen-

156 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

eral tenor of the evidence, that he obtains his supplies generally,
for the use of his family, from those belonging to the institution.'^

The Board notified Mr. Hutchinson that his services would be
dispensed with. The clerk was also discharged.

An Act was passed in May, 1844, providing " for the admis-
sion of the Township of Moyamensing to participate in the advan-
tages and privileges of the institution at Blockley."

The management, or rather the lack of it, in the medical
department of the institution was the cause of much dissatisfaction
on the part of the Guardians in 1845. ^^^ c»f the reports of the
Hospital Committee said, " That the existing conditions do not in
many respects meet the approbation of your Committee." It
referred to the rules providing for four physicians, four surgeons
and two accouchers who served gratuitously, and further said,
" Nearly all the gentlemen at present holding these situations are
connected with the medical schools of the city as Professors or
Lecturers, and for about four months of the year attend regularly
at the Hospital, for the purpose of lecturing to their classes." The
sick patients were taken from their wards to the lecture room to
" undergo examinations for the purpose of furnishing subjects for
the lectures." None of the patients are exempt from the liability
of being thus exposed. This connection of the Almshouse Hos-
pital with the medical schools, in consequence of the facilities it
affords for clinical instruction, interesting surgical operations and
post mortem examinations is, no doubt, of no small value to the
schools, but as our interests in them do not predominate over the
interest we feel in the discharge of duty towards the poor, as their
legal Guardians, we cannot admit the propriety of the connection.

" Without attaching any censure to the skilful and learned
gentlemen who officiate in this capacity for anything wrong m the
manner of performing these duties, we nevertheless hold that our
sanction of the thing itself is altogether unjustifiable. There are
rights possessed even by the recipients of charity which should be
guarded, and feelings which should be respected.

" At this time there were eight young resident physicians on
duty for one-year terms. They were supposed to be under the

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. loT

directions of the Visiting Staff, and under the rules they were not
allowed to prescribe, unless in a case of emergenc}'. It was said
that the rtiles were not complied with, and that the residents,
recently from school and anxious to practice, often rather undtily
elated with the first honors of the Doctorate, are placed at once,
and while totally inexperienced, in situations of the highest respon-
sibility, in charge of a Hospital often containing 500 patients,
subject only to such limited control as the attending physicians
see fit to exercise ; or rather stich as the residents themselves are
willing to submit to.

" Whether it is consistent with our dut}^ towards these unfor-
tunate inmates of the Hospital to place them in charge of mere
novices who never had a case before entering its wards, msiy be
questioned."

This report caused much thought, and before a final conclu-
sion was arrived at, another report from the Committee showed the
unruly spirit of the resident physicians and brought on a change
in that department. The report stated that the '" Resident Phj-si-
cians had relinquished their charge of the sick in the Hospital, with-
out having given any previous intimation of their intentions."
The reason assigned was that the}^ would not board with the steward,
as required by the rules. The sick in the wards were thus left
without medical attendance, which might have proved fatal to
some of them.

A resolution was adopted b}^ the Board dismissing Doctors
Keating, Higginbottom, Porter, Jones, Farquharson, Sherrard,
Mason, Brent and Haines from the institution, and authorizing the
Hospital Committee to make temporary arrangements to secure
medical attendance for the patients.

A special meeting was held on the following day when a
communication was received from the offending physicians, in
which they announced their readiness to perform the duties of their
positions, and stating that they onh^ desired redress of their griev-
ances in regard to the steward.

The steward, the dismissed ph3^sicians and the nurses ^vere sum-
moned to appear before the Board, and an investigation commenced.

158 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

The steward, Mr. Daniel Smith, who had succeeded Mr.
Stockton, made a statement, and Dr. Keating gave his version of
the difficulty.

It appeared that a lady who ate at the same table with the
steward and doctors complained of the deportment and language of
the physicians, after the nuisance had become intolerable, and they
were rebuked for their violations of propriety. The doctors
attempted to represent the steward as being a man of offensive
manners and meddlesome inclinations, but they did not succeed.

Those who knew Mr. Smith spoke of him as " being always
amiable and gentlemanly in his intercourse with those connected
with the institution."

The Board declined to re-instate the physicians who had been
dismissed.

The doctors who had been discharged published a statement
in the Ledger^ in which they not only attempted to justify their
actions, but assailed the Guardians, and insinuated charges impeach-
ing the integrity and moral character of some of the members of
the Board. The vacant positions were soon filled.

Another report from the Committee said :

" A building is provided as a depository during the interval
between death and interment. An official is constantly stationed
to guard it, and rules of the most stringent character have been
adopted for the safe keeping of the bodies and to preserve them
unmutilated in cases where the friends of the deceased can be
found. A messenger is always dispatched forthwith to inform the
relatives or friends of the deceased, in order that they may have
an opportunity of removing the body ; and it has always been en-
joined on the Resident Physicians and students never to make
any examinations, unless with the express permission of the
friends. In other cases, where there are no known friends, or
where they cannot be found, although there are no rules pro-
hibiting the examination of the bodies, yet it has been well
understood that such examinations should not be made oftener
than necessary, and always with a strict regard to decency and
propriety. A recent instance might be cited to show the little heed

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 159

given to the first injunction and the utter disregard to the second
will be sufiiciently established by mentioning the fact that within
a few days, two members of the Board happening to enter an un-
frequented, and, as they supposed, an unoccupied part of the build-
ing, discovered the mutilated remains of a human body, in a con-
dition too revolting to be described. Appearances indicated that
the remains had been there for several months, and we suppose
they had been overlooked."

The conditions described by these reports called for immediate
action ; the committee recommended the election of a Chief Resi-
dent Physician and Assistants, to be paid for their services, to reside
on the premises, and to have entire charge of the Medical Depart-
ment of the House.

The recommendation was adopted, and Dr. H. S. Patterson
was elected Chief Resident Physician, at a salary of $1800 per
annum.

The following consultants were also chosen : Dr. Wm. Byrd
Page, Consulting Surgeon ; Dr. Meredith Clymer, Consulting Phy-
sician ; Dr. N. D. Benedict, Consulting Accoucher. The}^ were
each to receive $100 a year for their services.

CHAPTER XIV.

PROTEST REGARDING GRAVEYARD— POOR HEATING AND VENTILA-
TION.

A PROTEST, signed by six members of the Board, regard-
ing the graveyard, was presented on November loth,
1845. I^ it the statement was made that " the practice
of taking the bodies from the graveyard to the Lecture
rooms had prevailed for j^ears."

In reply to the argument that the schools must have bodies
and that obstacles placed in the way of their procuring them would
be injurious to the interests of science, the protest said: "This
should have no weight with us, inasmuch as the duties of the Board
are limited to the relief and employment of the poor, the Board
sustaining the same relation to the people under its charge that
the head of a family does to the members of it. That the same
kind, if not the same degree of care should be exercised, and that
it has no right to seek the promotion of other objects which inter-
fere with the proper performance of these duties."

It had been said that " as paupers are of no use to society
while living, there is no wrong done in making them useful when
dead." The protest answered that by saying : " If the basis of
this argument was true, the inference would be shocking. What
then should be said of it in the face of the fact that many of them
during the principal part of their lives, and until old age or sick-
ness overtook them, supported themselves and families, often under
the most difficult and trying circumstances, in a creditable and
respectable manner, who have been useful members of society and
who have as keen sensibilities in reg&rd to decent interment and
safety of their remains as any other people. But we are not will-
ing to admit that even in the case of the most depraved, the Board
would be excusable in conniving at any violations of the grave.
Few, and perhaps none, are so deadened in feelings as not to desire
the rites of Christian burial, for who would not revolt at the idea
160 '

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. ]<J1

if they were consulted on the subject, of permitting their bodies to
be exposed in the lecture rooms, cut to pieces for the benefit of the
schools and then thrown into a pit containing the remains of hun-
dreds of others. All look to the Guardians for protection ; no dis-
tinction is practical or expedient.

" To trifle with or disregard these feelings is a cruelty alto-
gether un justifiable.

" If the advancement of medical science be a sufficient plea for
this, why might it not be as well applied as an apology for the inflic-
tion of bodily torture, for it is questionable whether that would be
a serious cruelt3% compared with the goading of the mind to agon}"
by the horrible apprehensions of such a fate to await the body after
death.

" That it occasions dread and anxiety in the minds of some of
the inmates of this House, is a well known fact. They are fall}'
aware, or at least many of them are, that burial here, during the
lecture season, is a mockery, and to be buried elsewhere is some
times asked as the last and greatest favor.

" It is not to be supposed that these fears and exciting anxie-
ties do not produce evil effects on the sick and often diminish the
chances of recovery, for they haunt them until the last hour of life
and increase in terror as the moment of dissolution approaches.

" And may not this anxiety to have the remains cared for and
protected after death be parti}- produced by the idea that the spirit
may continue to be cognizant of what is done to the mortal part ?
That death does not mean a total disconnection f

" The evils complained of and the wrong done admit of a
remedy which should be instantly applied. Justice and common
humanity forbid that the bodies of the poor should be treated in a
manner which the law allows only in the cases of the worst felons. N

This subject was the cause of much discussion, but no imme-
diate action was taken, as the majority of the Board of Guardians
contended " that the colleges must have subjects," and that if the
supply from the Almshouse was cut off, the bodies would be stolen
from the cemeteries ; and that it was better that those who died
without friends or relatives to mourn for them should go to the
11

162 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

dissecting rooms than that the doctors should have the graves, in
which so many living persons felt an affectionate interest, robbed of
their contents.

This question was not settled for many years, and was the
cause of much scandal. Certain people, who had an interest in the
bodies^ spoke of the sentiments embraced in the protest as " mawk.
ish sentimentality,'' but the community at large did not agree with
them.

A nurse named Welsh left the institution in 1848 under pecu-
liar circumstances, and a committee investigated the matter. The
report stated " Nurse Welsh left her duties on Saturday, August
15th; came on the afternoon of Monday, 17th, and a case of
labor occurring at that time was attended to b}' her. She left
again that same evening, and returned on Wednesday, the 19th.
She received her month's wages from the Steward, which he paid
her by order of Mr. William Abbott, a Guardian, although it was
not due. She took away from the House with her two loads of
goods, one of which the vSteward saw. He found that it contained
a box, a part of a bedstead, some chairs and four or five trunks, the
contents of which were unknown. The other load he did not
examine, as he was relieved of that duty by the pass of Mr. Abbott.
Neither the Steward, Matron or Doctor knew anything of Nurse
Welsh's intention to leave until the Saturday afternoon she left,
when Mr. Abbott mentioned it to the Matron as he was passing
through her department. There was no nurse or competent assist-
ant left in charge of the ward, and as there were at least four
patients there requiring constant and special attention, they must
have suffered considerably from neglect. Several flat irons are
missing, and a large box containing bed clothing cannot be satis-
factorily accounted for. The Steward, at the request of Mr. x\bbott
and some other members, took down the bedstead that Nurse Welsh
took away.

" Your Committee have therefore come to the following con-
clusion : that the rules and practices of this Board have been
grossly violated, not only by the nurse who left her duties preuia-
turely, without giving proper notice to the Committee, and at a

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 163

time when lier services were much needed, but also b}^ the member
who assisted her in getting her goods from the House, without the
possibility of the Steward or the Matron knowing who the said,
goods belonged to."

The Board dropped the matter, much to the relief of Air.
Abbott.

To show the character of Nurse Welsh, it need, only be said
that she was afterwards sent to the Penitentiary for throwing vit-
riol in a young man's face and destroying his sight.

This Mr. Abbott was soon mixed up in other aifairs which did
not reflect much credit on him, to say the least.

John Wistar, an inmate of the House, died, and Mr. Abbott,
without consulting his colleagues, notified the Coroner that the
death occurred under suspicious circumstances, and asked for an
inquest to be held. The newspapers took the matter up and reflec-
tions were cast upon the management of the institution and the
Chief Resident Physician, Dr. Benedict (he having succeeded Dr.
Patterson) in particular.

The Board thoroughly investigated the matter, and adopted
the following preamble and resolutions, which were published in
the daily papers in November, 1848 :

"Whereas, The Board of Guardians was apprised by the
certificate of the Coroner and by certain publications in the news-
papers that an inquest had been held on the body of John Wistar,
late an inmate of the Almshouse, who died in the drunkards' ward
of that institution ; and

" Whereas, The several publications alluded to, and the certifi-
cate of the Coroner, contained severe strictures upon the rules for
the government of the institution, and upon the conduct of its offi-
cers ; it was, on motion,

" Resolved^ That this Board do proceed to make a full and care-
ful examination of everything connected with this matter ; and,

" Whereas, This Board has been made fully acquainted with
all the circumstances of the case, b}' a careful examination of all
the persons who had any connection with the said deceased, after
his last return to this House, and is satisfied that great injustice

164 History of Philadelphia Aliiishoiises and Hospitals.

has been done to the institution and its officers by the publications
and certificate ; therefore, it is deemed proper for the Board to state
fully the conclusions to which it has arrived, viz.: That there was
nothing in the condition of John Wistar, at the time of his return
to this House ; nor in his confinement of forty-eight hours ; nor in
his sickness ; nor in his death in this House, which in the slightest
degree justified Mr. William Abbott, one of the members of this
Board, in sending for the Coroner.

''That this Board cannot but view with serious regret and dis-
approbation the examination by the Coroner, which, to say the least
of it, was limited, and extraordinarily limited, inasmuch as he de-
clined to examine the Chief Resident Ph3'sician, who attended the
case, although notified that he was in waiting in an adjoining room,
and permitted the jury to make up their verdict from an examina-
tion of the Steward, Doorkeeper and Cellkeeper, neither of whom
pretend to know anything about the cause of Wistar's death, and
extraordinary as it resulted in a statement of ' death from inflam-
mation of the bowels,' without any consultation with the attending
physician, or post mortem examination.

" That the statement in one or more of the newspapers that
John Wistar had been confined in the lock-up thirty-six hours
longer than the usual time of punishment is untrue. He was con-
fined but forty-eight hours, and after that time had the freedom of
the Ward, halls and yards, as all the other patients had. His punish-
ment was by order of the Steward, who alone has the power in
such cases. That the evidence conclusively shows the death
of Wistar to have been caused by an excessive debauch of
seven or eight days, operating upon a constitution broken down
by long-continued intemperance. That this Board do declare
that they have not been able to discover the slightest ground
for censure against the Medical Staff or any other officer of the
House."

Dr. N. B. Leidy was the Coroner at that time, and he subse-
quently sent a note to Dr. Benedict, in which he said, " The certi-
ficate contains a small portion of the cause of death."

Dr. Benedict paid no attention to this half apology.

History of Philadelpliia Almshouses and Hospitals. lO-")

This was the same Mr. Abbott who was connected with the
singular departure of Nurse Welsh. After the Board had so gen-
erously overlooked his actions in that affair he certainly did not
show any gratitude for their leniency. It was very small, on his
part, to raise all this trouble and scandal about nothing.

An old newspaper, in speaking of this gentleman, said : " With
the entrance of Mr. Abbott into the Board of Guardians com-
mences the degeneracy of the management of the Almshouse.
From that time various individuals were elected Guardians, who,
without attending to any private business, or receiving any legal
emoluments, contrived to make a living out of it."

Here commenced the scandals which ultimately resulted in
the reorganization of the Board upon a better basis.

The arrangements for heating and ventilating the Insane De-
partment were ver}^ poor in 1S49. Stoves were used for furnishing
heat, but they did not accomplish the object. The poor unfort-
unates in that part of the institution suffered severely with the
extreme cold. No one could imagine the effect it would have on
them to be confined in wards where the temperature was below the
freezing point ; it certainU- would not assist in their recovery.
Feeble, demented creatures, whose bodies were not alwa3^s properlj^
covered with suitable clothing, could not endure it as well as the
strong, healthier people, although it must have been very tr3-ing to
all in the place.

The Board instructed Dr. Benedict to make tests with ther-
mometers and to report the results. In February he presented a
statement, in which he said : " On the first floor of the west wing
of the Women's Lunatic Asylum, at about 9 o'clock a. :\i., found
that a towel which a nurse was using to wipe one of the patients,
in one of the cells, had frozen. The patient was a very delicate
woman, and altogether unfit to be placed in such a temperature.

" This morning one of the patients was found under the bed,
on the floor, wrapped up in the bedclothes. All water in the room
was frozen. The thermometer then stood at from 13 to iS degrees.
On the same day, at 2 o'clock p. m., the thermometer stood at 27
degrees in the cells, and 24 degrees in the open air. In the cell

16(5 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

nearest the stove, and with the door standing open, within three or
four feet of the stove, the thermometer indicated a temperature
below the freezing point. The bed clothes upon which water was
spilled were constantly frozen during the severe weather.''

What a horrible condition. In these days if the thermometers
registered below 70 degrees reports of insufBciency of heat would
soon be made, and would be remedied immediately.

The committee recommended a plan for heating that part of
the House by steam, and the Board promptly approved it, and took
the proper steps to introduce the improvement.

The Board appeared to be afflicted with certain members who did
not appreciate the courtesy due to their colleagues, or were igno-
rant of the proper course to pursue to accomplish their objects.
Mr. Thomas Stewart was evidently one of that class, as the action
taken by the Guardians on a resolution offered by Mr. Gilpin, on
April 9th, 1849, would seem to show.

The resolution as presented read :

''''Resolved^ That our fellow member, Mr. Thomas Stewart,
foreman of the late Grand Jury, who made their presentment on
the 27th of March last, be requested to present to this Board a
plan for the better government and employment of a class of our
inmates, alluded to in said inquest, said class being designated as
a ' number of strong, healthy and able-bodied persons, of both
sexes, wdthout employment, idly lounging away their time through-
out the premises ; and also in the factory are to be seen a large
number of the same description of men, employed in picking
oakum, earning from two to five cents per diem.' "

Mr. Fell moved to add the following:

" And if, as he stated, the above suggestions were made in a
respectful manner, what is the explanation of the following para-
graph, which occurs in the presentment alluded to? 'And in
place of devoting their time and energies, and, as it were, warping
the institution to serve particular selfish ends of a doubtful
policy, at variance with its general principles, economy and useful-
ness, and that have a tendency to distract the harmony, efficiency
and united action of their own body.' "

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 167

The Board adopted the resolutions and agreed to make reply-
to the Grand Jury's presentment. Mr. Stewart had no plan to
suggest, as he had been requested to do.

To take advantage of his position as Foreman of the Grand
Jury to impeach the conduct of his colleagues, was, to say the least,
a display of very bad taste. If he knew of anything that was wrong
in the management, it was his duty to call the attention of the
members of the Board to the facts and endeavor to have it im-
proved. His method not onl}^ brought discredit upon the Board,
of which he was a member,* but was a reflection upon himself and
a proof of neglect of duty.

The Board made the following answer to the Grand Jury's pre-
sentment.

" The Grand Jury for April session in their presentment say :
' The Hospital Building, erected with especial regard to the neces-
sities of the sick, with air}^ and pleasant apartments, opening on a
cheerful garden, has been converted into a receptacle for a compar-
atively small number of idiots and generally incurable lunatics,
while the great mass of the sick are crowded into apartments in the
factory buildings and elsewhere. None of these rooms on the hrst
floor have suflicient ventilation, opening on a few feet of barren
yard, and a blank high wall. It is certainly desirable that the
insane should have every necessary comfort and convenience, but
not at the expense of human life, and the sacrifice of the original
intention of the institution.'

" This language distinctly charges that the patients in the
lunatic asylum are comparatively a small number, or one-thirtieth
of the sick ; that, for the accommodation of the former, the latter
have been removed from their airy and pleasant quarters and
crowded into other places, and that the change has been made at
the expense of human life The Guardians, in refutation of these
allegations and without commenting on the reckless ignorance or
active malevolence which alone could have prompted them, submit
a few facts. In the first place, the number of persons of unsound
minds in the lunatic department, instead of being small in compar-
ison wnth that in the hospital — instead of being one-thirtieth^ as

168 Histor\- of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

averred in the presentment — is in fact greater, the nnmber in the
insane department being 390, while that in the hospital is 349.

" In the next place, these 349. or whatever nnmber may at any
time reqnire medical or snrgical aid, instead of being crowded, as
the presentment alleges, by the change of their apartments, have
had their accommodations extended and their means of comfort
proportionately increased. In the building formerly occupied by
the sick there were 12 wards, each 44x40 feet, or 1,760 square feet
each, containing 228 beds ; 6 wards, each 22x40 feet, or 880 square
feet each, containing 56 beds ; i attic, containing 40 beds — making
a total of 324 beds. The present hospital consists of 11 wards,
each 47x44 feet, or 2,068 square feet each, containing 220 beds;
9 wards, each 47x22 feet, or 1,034 square feet each, containing 90
beds; 6 wards, each 32x25 feet, or 800 square feet each, containing
42 beds ; 2 attics, containing 80 beds — making a total of 432 beds.

" Thus, in the opinion of the Grand Jury, the patients were
amply provided for in the old hospital, where in the wards less than
93 square feet were allowed each bed ; but are crowded at the
expense of human life in the new hospital, where more than 104
square feet are allowed for the same purpose.

" The classification of the insane was not the only object pro-
posed to be accomplished by this change, the proper treatment of
the patients also required it. Before any change had been effected,
the building used as a hospital for the sick, from the increase of
patients, had become totally inadequate for the purpose, and from
a necessity which was regularly increasing other and better accom-
modations for them had to be provided.

" To effect this, either the interior of the large buildings form-
ing the wings of the old hospital, which had been arranged at a
heavy expense for the use of the lunatics, must have been entirel}''
remodeled to fit them for the sick, and other and costly arrange-
ments made elsewhere for the lunatics, or the present more eco-
nomical, and in all respects the more suitable plan, adopted.

" It appears, from the statement before given, that by the
chauge of the hospital for the sick the Guardians have been enabled
to increase the number of beds precisely one-third, and have effected

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 169

this not by the sacrifice of space or room, but, on the contrar}^
have greatl}' increased it.

" It will be perceived that the wards in the old hospital contained
but 26,300 square feet. The present hospital has 36,854 square
feet in the wards, and in addition it has 16 rooms 32x16 feet, used
as operating rooms, bath rooms, nurses' rooms, dining rooms,
kitchen, etc. The former and present hospital are parallel to each
other, forming the opposite sides of a hollow square, and conse-
quently have the same exposures. The second and third stories
are very pleasant and airy, and command a fine view of the city.

" The ventilation of the first floor is little, if any at all, ob-
structed by the wall inclosing the yard. The removal, however, of
the sick and dying from the former quarters, where the}- were in
the immediate proximity of raving maniacs, whose howls and
screams rang in their ears b}^ day and by night, more than com-
pensate for minor inconveniences, even if such exist. That the
change complained of was made ' at the expense of human life,' or
even of the discomfort or inconvenience of the paupers is therefore
utterly untrue.

" The Guardians cannot forbear expressing their deep regret
that men, acting under the responsibilities of their oaths or affirm-
ations, should have been induced by any influence to make repre-
sentations so evidently groundless that even the slight opportu-
nity aff"orded by their short visit, if properly improved, would have
prevented them from making.

'' Although not directl}^ required b}- an}- remarks of either of
the grand juries, it may be well, as explanatory of the diflSculties
which the Board has had to encounter, and of the probable influ-
ences which produced these presentments, to refer briefl}- to the
history of the lunatic asylum. The buildings originall}^ intended
for lunatics were constructed upon plans adopted b}- commissioners
appointed for the purpose, and approved by the then existing
Board of Guardians. In those days it seems to have been con-
sidered that humanit}^ discharged its whole duty to these, the most
unfortunate of her family, when she prevented them from inflicting
injury upon themselves or others, and cells, high walls, straight-

170 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals,

jackets, tranquiliziug chairs, ring-bolts, fetters and manacles were
the favorite preventatives. With these views, and having refer-
ence to the number of this class, then a charge upon the public,
the commissioners, no doubt, thought that they made sufficient
provisions when they caused 120 cells to be erected for their
accommodation. In 1834, when the cells were first occupied, there
were 92 persons to become inmates 'of them. But when more
correct and benevolent views of their condition and their demand
upon society prevailed, when it became more generally understood
that no matter to what extent they were bereft of reason, that they
were neither wild beasts to be caged nor felons to be chained, but
human beings, having claims upon our sympathies and care in
proportion to their afflictions, susceptible of treatment and not
unfrequently of cure ; then the apartments provided were found
entirely inadequate.

" The number of these patients since 1834 has been constantly,
greatly and ever fearfully increasing. In 1834 the number of new
admissions was 68; in 1841, seven years afterwards, the number
had increased to 202 ; and in 1848, after another period of seven
years, the new admissions amounted to 287. On the i6th of July,
1834, when the asylum was opened for their reception, the number
under care and treatment was 92 ; on the ist of January, 1849, i^ was
375. It is therefore obvious that the limited buildings constructed
upon the principle designated were not merely useless, but positively
injurious. This great number, until recently, were from necessity
thrown together, without regard to the peculiar character or pro-
ducing cause of their fearful malady, the raving maniac with the
weak-minded and partially insane, the confirmed and incurable
with the recent and probably temporarily deranged. Any attempt
at classification was defied, treatment was helpless and cure
impossible.

" In reference to these evils the Grand Inquest for March,
1845, says: 'The system is a dreadful one, and a brief residence
among the uncontrollable mad may alone suffice, sympathetically
or from fear, to establish forever the disorder in one, who, differ-
ently situated, might be restored to health and reason.'

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 171

"Thus this and other Grand Juries, in 1845, ^^^^ earlier, were
earnestly pressing the changes that a Grand Jury in 1849 ^^^
thought proper to condemn.

" The Guardians, however, needed not the promptings of a
Grand Jury. They had seen and deplored these evils, but there
were difficulties to encounter and obstacles to overcome before a
remedy at all commensurate with the necessities of the case could
be carried into execution. The opposition of some who were slow
to believe that a mind diseased could be administered to, or that a
disordered intellect might be restored to its health}' exercise, and
of others who balanced the removal of any amount of human suf-
fering against the possible increase of a poor rate, for a time
retarded the adoption, and has since attempted to harrass and
perplex the execution of a remedy urgently required by humanity
and sanctioned by enlightened economy.

" The Board will no longer conceal that at every step they
have encountered the opposition, degenerated at last into personal
hostility, of an active and untiring minority. That of this minoritj'-
the gentlemen who were Foremen of the two last Grand Juries
form part, and the presentments of these Juries are but weak
dilutions of the tirades that for a time amused, until their repetition
disgusted the Board.

" The Grand Jury for February recommended, ' That all labor,
nursing, attendance, etc., that is required in and about the estab-
lishment should by all means, so far as is possible, be done by the
inmates of the house." So far as it is possible, and at the same
time be amsistcnt ivitli decency^ this at the present time is the prac-
tice. In but one department — that of the lunatic females — has
pauper attendance and nursing, to any extent, been dispensed with
with, and the recommendation of the Grand Jur}^ can have no other
meaning than that the Board should, in this department, return
to the practice that formerly prevailed.

" It may be premised that pauper labor is little to be relied on,
•even with the most careful and continued supervision, and for
nursing and attention to the sick should not be employed. It is
true that poverty, disease, age and decrepitude bring to the Alms-

172 Histor\- of Philadelpliia Almshouses and Hospitals.

house some who merit much better provision than public charity-
affords, but from these nurses and assistants can seldom be taken.
The duties of these persons require health and strength to dis-
charge, and they are necessarily taken from those who have been
cured of diseases brought on by their own vile and vicious habits.
These, for the most part, are persons whose companions are the
most abandoned, whose haunts are the most degraded, and whose
lives are about equally divided between those haunts, the Alms-
house and the prison. They are detained against their will, they
work reluctantly without hire, they are insensible to praise and
have no fear of punishment. They perform no labor which they
can avoid, and do nothing right that is easier to do wrong.

" The female lunatic department was formerly under the
charge of a male superintendent, assisted by two male paupers
from the class above described, w ho slept among the female patients,
and by several female paupers, perhaps still more degraded and
abandoned than the men. The duties of the men were among the
most violent patients, who destroyed their clothing and stripped
naked their persons, and whose ablutions, when performed, were
done by the men.

'■ Some of the patients, even in their madness, shrunk from
this rude handling, and raved with increased fury at their indecent
exposure. Revolting to decency as this practice was, it was not
without difficulty and only by degrees that it was abandoned. At
present no males are employed in the female lunatic asylum. The
patients are classified, having a hired female superintendent over
each division, with female inmates of the house as assistants.

" The substitution of these paid superintendents for male pau-
pers to take care of these wretched and helpless women is what the
Grand Jury desire should be abolished, and upon the ground of
economy recommend that the paupers should again be employed as
the only nurses and attendants. Even on this ground the Grand
Jury are mistaken. The whole increase of salary consequent upon
the change is $650 per annum ; which is more than compensated
for by the saving from waste, destruction and plunder of pauper
labor with imperfect supervision. We must assure the Grand Jury

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 173

that we cannot adopt their recommendation. If the public desire a
return to the former barbarous management of this department,
they must procure other agents, if they can, for the accomplish-
ment of their desire.

'' We do not believe, however, that, even among the members
of this Grand Jury v/lio have been so imposed upon, more than one
can be found willing to aid them.

" The Grand Jury of February was much surprised at seeing
so many strong, healthy and able persons of both sexes without
employment, idly lounging away their time throughout the premises.

" In reply to a resolution of the Board calling upon the Stew-
ard for information on this subject, he makes report 'that there
are very few able-bodied men in the institution. Persons not inti-
mateh^ acquainted with the inmates would, upon a casual observa-
tion, suppose that there were man}'' such ; but upon a close exam-
ination it will be found that nearly all are afflicted in some wav or
another; that the cooks, bakers, butchers, woodmen, coal carriers,
messengers, ward-keepers, etc., all have their several duties to
perform, which does not occupy all of their time, yet so much
of it as to prevent them from being engaged in anything else.
When their work is done they assemble in groups in different
places.'

" This also leads to the impression on the minds of such cas-
ual observers as the Grand Jury that the}^ are a number of healthy,
able-bodied men and women unemployed. It is but justice, how-
ever, to add that the Grand Jury visited at a season of the year
when the House is crowded M-ith the most improvident if not the
most vicious, who seek shelter from the winter. But ver}' few of
them are acquainted with any mechanical occupation at which they
can be engaged, and at this season of the year it is difficult to find
continuous emplo3anent for such a number upon the farm and
grounds. This also may have contributed to lead the Jury into the
error of saying what they did.

" All persons, however, able to work are provided with employ-
ment suitable to their condition. That which is the most profitable
or useful to the institution is of course selected. If the abilitv or

174 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

condition of the pauper does not qualify him for such employment,
then the least expensive is resorted to, and rather than suffer any
one to be idle, they are put to picking oakum, of which this very
Grand Jury complains.

" It appears that there were at the time 756 male paupers, 449
of which were patients in the hospital, lunatic asylum and incur-
able wards, and 67 were nurses, assistants, etc.; leaving 240 as a
balance. There were 162 of these employed as farmers, gardeners,
carpenters, weavers, tailors, shoemakers, etc., and the other jS
worked around the kitchens, store-rooms, etc.

'' The Guardians may here be permitted to remark that if the
Foreman of this Grand Jury, who is also a Guardian of 'the Poor,
and sworn or affirmed diligently to perform his duty as a Guard
ian, knew or believed that the presentment, written by himself in
this particular was true, it was his duty to have brought the mat-
ter before the attention of the Board, who alone could rectify the
abuse, if any existed. Since the publication of the presentment
the Board has, by resolution, in a very respectful manner, and
with perfect sincerity, requested him to submit a plan of more
economical government of the institution, and of a more profitable
employment of the labor of the inmates. From want of leisure,
disposition or ability, he has not complied with this request.

" The Guardians believe that the Grand Inquest for April had
been imposed upon, when they say ' from facts which came to their
knowledge, they are convinced that persons confined in the cells
(for punishment) suffer for want of medical attendance.' It seems
strange that such facts should have come to their knowledge dur-
ing one short visit, and yet have entirely escaped the observations
of the Guardians, who, either as a Board or in committees, are at
the Almshouse three times in every week.

" The Guardians have no doubt that these pretended facts are
the allegations of the Foreman of the Jury, which had been faith-
fully investigated by the Board, and ascertained to have no other
foundation than his implacable hatred to an officer of the institu-
tion, by whose suggestions and under whose direction many of the
most humane and important improvements have been accomplished.

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 175

A conclusion the Grand Jury would have arrived at, had it the
means and opportunity of making an investigation.

" The Board of Guardians would, be gratified by, and invite
the attendance of the municipal authorities of the cit}^ and the dis-
tricts embraced in this corporation, and of all citizens who feel an
interest in the many difficult, onerous and important matters com-
mitted to the management of the Board."

Published by order of the Board.

Wm. G. Flanagan, President,

Samuel J. Robbins, Secretary.

CHAPTER XV.

FIRST FEMALE PHYSICIAN EMPLOYED— CHOLERA AGAIN IN 1849.

PHILADELPHIA was again visited by cholera in 1849, ^^^'
as a consequence, somethin^^ like a panic prevailed among
all classes. The first three cases occurred on the 30th
of May.

One of the victims was an Irish emigrant, who arrived in
New York from England a few days before. The disease had been
raging in Europe in 1848, and probably the man contracted it
there. The other two were men employed on a canal boat at Port
Richmond. They all died on the day they were attacked.

Owing to the prevalence of the disease in Europe, the Board
of Health endeavored to place the city in a favorable condition to
avert, as much as possible, the consequence of an epidemic. Par-
ticular attention was paid to cleansing, sewerage and the removal
of all nuisances ; the gutters were flushed constantly with a free
use of water, and the School Controllers were requested to give a
vacation to the children during the epidemic, and to give the use
of some of the school buildings for hospitals. They refused both
requests.

The city hospitals were opened in Cherry, Pine and South
streets ; in the county at Bush Hill, Moyamensing, Southwark,
Northern Liberties, Kensington, Richmond and West Philadelphia.

The number of cholera patients admitted to these hospitals
was 344, and the deaths numbered iii. The whole number of
deaths in the city and county from the 30th of May to September
8th, was 1012.

There were no cases in the Almshouse until June 2'jth, about
four weeks after the disease broke out in the city.

A special meeting of the Guardians was held on the 13th of
July, at the request of the Mayor; ways and means were discussed
at length, but as the members of the Board had confidence in the
ability and fidelity of the Medical Staff they declined to accept the
services of additional physicians. The mortality in the Alms-
176

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 177

house was much greater thau elsewhere, as the luost of the per-
sons attacked were generally of broken down constitutions, or
weak or feeble.

The death-roll of one week reached the alarming figures of lOO
in a population of 1,546 ; all kinds of exaggerated reports were cir-
culated, and it was feared that it was even worse. During the fol-
lowing week the deaths were 99 in a population of only 1,358. The
ravages of the disease diminished rapidly from that time, and dur-
ing the week ending August 7th there were only 58 deaths in the
Almshouse.

The medical men, nurses and most of the persons employed at
Blockley worked hard and intelligently, and the speedy mastery of
the disease can be attributed to their efforts.

The cit}^ at large did not suffer as heavily as was anticipated,
owing to the prompt and wise measures of the Board of Health.

In the following December the special committee made a com-
plete and interesting report, in which it was stated : " That the
epidemic first appeared in the institution on June 27th. A colored
man, named William Jones, was admitted into the black men's
medical ward from the city on that da}^ and died with the disease
before night. The next case was that of Isaac Wood, also colored,
who was brought in from the cit}' on the 29th following, and died on
the same day. There were nine other cases in different parts of the
House previous to the ist of July, at which period a hospital was
opened in the second story of the building known as the wash-
house. At that time the disease became quite alarming, and it is
believed that for six or seven days no regular record was kept of
the admissions into the hospital.

" On the 7th of July the register begins and gives an account
of 99 males admitted, 12 of whom were cured and Sj died. In the
female department loi cases were admitted, onl}^ 1 1 of whom were
cured. On the 13th of July the Aledical Board recommended that
two temporary hospitals should be erected outside of the buildings.
They fixed upon a site near the gate on the Darb}- road, B3' the
20th these buildings were so far completed and furnished as to be
deemed fit for the reception of patients, and the}- were accordingly
12

178 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

occupied on that day. By the registry there kept, it appears that
20 male patients were admitted, of whom three were cured.

" In the female department eight were admitted, of whom five
were cured. On the examination of the ' death book ' and the regis-
ters, the committee find a number of cases and deaths of the various
kinds of cholera, which it is believed are not included among those
already mentioned. Adding these, the aggregate of cholera cases
and deaths would be 307 cases and 229 deaths.

" About the 30th of August the disease entirely diappeared
from the institution, when the committee gave directions to have
the outer hospitals taken down. The population of the House upon
the breaking out of the cholera was 1,546, and at the period of its
disappearance 1,397, being a decrease of 149 in eight weeks.

" This difference is partly in consequence of many of the
inmates being removed from the House to the cit}^ or districts and
there supported until the epidemic disappeared.

. " The whole expense on account of this visitation of the chol-
era at the Almshouse is stated at $4,982.60."

This committee of Guardians, including Michael Day, Wil-
liam P. Bolton, Reese D. Fell and Thomas Stewart, were warmly
thanked b}^ their colleagues for their labors in connection with the
Medical Board during the ravages of the epidemic.

Dr. N. D. Benedict, Chief Resident Physician, resigned in
November, 1849. '^^^ Board passed a fine eulogium upon his
character as a man and his skill as a physician. The doctor
deserved it,,as he had shown himself to be one of the best that had
ever been employed in the institution.

A number of improvements which he suggested at the time he
tendered his resignation were subsequently adopted. Dr. William
S. Haines was elected to fill the position, and the salary was raised
to $2,000.

Miss Sarah Adamson, a graduate of medicine, made applica-
tion to the Board for " such a situation in the Blockley Hospital
as will afford me the opportunity of seeing its practice to such an
extent and under such conditions as may comport with the proper
regulations of the institution."

History of Philadelphia Alinshouses and Hospitals. 179

The conimittee, to whom the request had been referred, re-
ported favorably on the 25th of May, 185 1, and a resolution was
adopted by the Guardians requesting the Chief Resident Physi-
cian to " assign her to such position as will best enable her to
obtain the knowledge she desires without detriment to the institu-
tion."

Dr. Adamson was the first female ph3^sician emploj-ed in that
capacity.

A contract had been made for apparatus for heating and ventil-
ating the Hospital and Insane Departments. It was not satisfac-
tory^ and the Board refused to pay the contractors. Suit was entered
for the amount the contractors claimed was due to them, and a long
and expensive litigation followed, which was finally settled by a
compromise.

Although the Guardians had agreed to the settlement they
were determined to go on record, and the following resolution was
adopted :

" Resolved, That in compromising the suit of Birkenbine &
Trotter it is understood that it is not an expression of their ap-
proval of the manner in which the heating and ventilating appara-
tus was constructed in the Hospital and Lunatic As3'lum, but
adopted as a means of economy and to save further loss to the
Board."

The Board purchased the building on North Seventh street
above Zane, now Filbert street, in August, 1851, It has been in
constant use since that time as the Cit}- Office, where application
for relief is made and all the outdoor service is performed.

One of the Resident Physicians of the Almshouse is in attend-
ance on the mornings of the week days to examine applicants and
to render such assistance as may be needed.

Rumors had been circulated and much discussion indulged in
by the community at large regarding the manner in which supplies
had been purchased for the Almshouse. Serious charges had been
made which reflected upon certain members of the Board in con-
nection with these purchases, and it became neccssar}' for the repu-
tation of the Guardians that certain facts should be ascertained.

180 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

To accomplish this Mr. Alexander Cummings moved '' that
a special committee be appointed to investigate the manner in
which blankets and tobacco had been purchased during the past
year."

The committee appointed under this motion made two reports.

The majority stated that '' Four bales of blankets had been
purchased of different parties at different prices, the said blankets
appearing to be identical in quality ; that the tobacco furnished,
and charged at fifteen cents per pound was pronounced by disinter-
ested experts not worth seven cents per pound and utterly unfit for
use ; that the committee had before them no evidence that any
member of the Board had been interested in or benefitted by the
high prices charged for goods submitted to them, but they thought
that the members purchasing had neglected to give proper atten-
tion to the quality and price of said goods." They recommended
a resolution making it the duty of the House and Store Commit-
tees to examine all goods purchased and report to the Board when
the price was considered too high.

The resolution was adopted. That report was signed by Alex.
Cummings, Robert P. King and A. I. Flomerfelt.

Mr. Thomas made a minority report, stating that the blankets
were believed to be purchased at second hand ; that the tobacco was
unfit for use, and a better article had been substituted, and that a
supply of tea had been purchased in the same manner as the
blankets. The minority report made no charge against any mem-
ber of the Board, except that of neglect to ptirchase articles of
regular wholesale dealers.

As might be 'expected, public opinion was not satisfied with
the action of the Board ; it looked too much like " whitewashing,"
and it was thought that the responsibility for such reckless, if not
corrupt purchases should be put upon certain individuals.

The Committee of Investigation, having been continued, made
a further report on the 3d of June, 1S53, which stated:

'' The committee appointed on the 2d ult., to inquire into cer-
tain alleged abuses in relation to the purchase of supplies for the
House, respectfully further report : that they find by an examin-

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 1>^1

ation of the books, that, in October last, a bale of blankets, con-
sisting of 147 pairs, was purchased, and the bill rendered to the
Board in the name of George Mustin at $3.00 per pair. The pur-
chase was made for this Board by D. S. Beideman and the bill
endorsed by him and marked correct.

" Upon inquiry we find that George Mustin is not,' and was
not, at that time, engaged in any regular business, and has no
means of supphdng such an order. In pursuing our inquir}', it
was ascertained that these blankets were procured by Mustin from
the firm of Watson & Co., a respectable and responsible importing
house, as he alleged at the time, for the Almshouse, at $2.45 per
pair, less five per cent., in payment of which they received the note
of D. S. Beideman at thirt}^ days for the identical blankets charged
to us at $3.00. Yet he endorsed the bill to us as correct. In addi-
tion to this it appears on the order book that Mr. Beideman drew
the money from our treasury for the blankets, and so far as the
record appears, here the transaction stops.

" Two months after this, in December, another bill of blankets
was bought by Mr. Beideman, and the bill rendered to us in the
name of E. Vanhook. It is well known that Mr. Vanhook does not
deal in such articles, being engaged in a business of a totally
different nature, nor does it appear at all clear how his name
became connected with the transaction. He did not allege that he
ever had anj^thing to do with it ; on the contrary, all the evidence
within the reach of the committee goes to show that he was an
entire stranger to the whole affair, except so far as his name is
connected with the bill, and why it was used it is impossible for us
to tell. He never owned the blankets in any way, and did not sell
them to us. Our inquiries have elicited the following information
with regard to this strange transaction : The blankets were sold by
Lewis & Co., a ver}^ respectable importing house, to D. S. Beide-
man, at $2.30 per pair, and sent directly from their store to the
Almshouse, and charged to D. S. Beideman, and paid for with his
note. These goods are charged to us, as before stated, at S3. 00
per pair.

" Your committee makes no comment on these strange facts ;

182 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

it is their business, by instructions of the Board, merely to present
this statement ; the conclusions belong to the Board.

'' With regard to the tobacco purchased last year, the quantity
appears to be unusually large, the whole amount being between
eight and nine thousand pounds, and nearly all purchased by
William- Abbott and sold to us under the name of Charles R«
Abbott. Upon inquiry we find that Charles R. Abbott is engaged
in the occupation of a clerk in an iron establishment in Richmond,
and in no way connected with the tobacco trade. In several
instances the orders for the tobacco were procured by Mr. Abbott
from other members of the Board under the allegation that his son
was engaged in the tobacco trade, and was, at the time, in the
receipt of invoices which he wished to dispose of. The orders on
our treasurer for the payment of all this tobacco are receipted for
by William Abbott, and the only connection that Charles R. Abbott
seems to have had with the transactions is in the use of his name
in making out the bills to us. He had no tobacco to sell, and, so
far as your committee could learn, had no facilities at his command
to fill these large orders ; and the only imaginable reason that can
be given for the use of his name is that he or some one else might
be enabled to pocket a profit at our expense.

" The quality of the tobacco has been complained of during the
whole year, and that on hand at the time of the appointment of
your committee the Board has already ordered to be returned, and
the money paid for it to be refunded.

" These statements are submitted to the Board in the hope
that something may be done to preserve its character and to vindi-
cate the integrity of its members. Accompanying the report are
tables showing the quantities and prices of blankets and tobacco
purchased during the last year, with names of the purchasers and
persons selling."

This report was signed by Mr. Thomas, in addition to Messrs.
Cummings, King and Flomerfelt.

The minutes of the meeting at which the report was presented
state that Messrs. Beideman and Abbott both made personal state-
ments concerning their connection with the transactions referred

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 183

to by the committee, but the secretary failed to state what the
nature of the statements was. The report was laid on the table
and the committee discharged from the further consideration of
the subject.

It is not to be wondered at that the community looked upon
the Board with suspicion. When such a report as that can be
made and no action taken upon it it certainl}^ looks as if the
majority were not the kind of men to be trusted.

Mr. Beideman appears to have been a veritable Wilkins
Micawber in his use of notes, and. Mr. Abbott will be remembered
by his connection with the leaving of Nurse Welsh and other
questionable transactions.

]\Ir. Alexander Cummings appears to have been determined to
prosecute the case, as on the 13th of June he offered two resolutions
to the effect that William Abbott and D. S. Beideman, having been
found guilty of speculating on the treasurj^, be expelled from the
Board,

As was to be expected, the resolutions were simply read and
laid on the table, and the accused members were virtually acquitted
bv the Board.

CHAPTER XVI.

CONSOLIDATION ACT PASSED— P. & W. C. RAILROAD TRACKS LAID.

THE scandal connected witli these infamous transactions
brought the matter before the Board again, in September,
1853. It was stated that the accused had been given no
opportunity to defend themselves or to explain their con-
nections with the purchases before the Investigating Committee.
Another committee, consisting of IMessrs. Smith, Potts, Gay, Flan-
agan and Cummings was appointed. On October 31st a report
was submitted which stated: "The committee appointed on the
19th ult. to inquire into the official conduct of Messrs. William
Abbott and D. S. Beideman, in connection with certain alleged
abuses, in the furnishing of tobacco and blankets for the Alms-
house, respectfully report : ' That they have received from Messrs.
Abbott and Beideman certain affidavits, etc., hereto annexed. The
committee further report that through their chairman they invited
Mr. Charles R. Abbott to meet the committee, but he declined to
do so, and also refused to submit to the committee the bills from
the parties from whom he procured the tobacco furnished in his
name. The committee ask to be discharged from the further con-
sideration of the subject.

There is nothing in the minutes to show the character of the
affidavits referred to, which is unfortunate, as there is no reason
given for the Board's action. Resolutions to expel were again
voted down, and the Guardians were willing to condone the offence
and stand by the offenders.

The tracks were laid for the Philadelphia and West Chester
Railroad in 1853. The road passed through the grounds of the
Almshouse on a line with Thirty-first Street. Trestle-work several
feet high was erected to raise the track up to grade, as the meadow
land of the Almshouse was much lower than the ground to the
north and to the south. After the tracks were laid, the ground
was filled in to the established grade. The company paid $5,955
as damages for the land taken.
184

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 185

Reports of cruelty to one of the children bound out from the
children's asylum were received, and after an investigation it was
decided to appoint a new officer to be known as " visitor of children."

His duties were to be to visit at least once a year all the chil-
dren bound out froln the institution, to inquire into their condition
and treatment, and to see that the terms of their indenture were
faithfully fulfilled. This officer went on duty in March, 1854, and
the appointment proved to be wise, as it checked the abuses that
by common rumor had been quite frequent.

On the 2d day of February, 1854, the Act known as the " Con-
solidation Act" was passed by the Legislature. This was in many
respects the most important Act that was ever enacted. It abolished
all of the governments in the districts, boroughs and townships in
the county, and turned them all over to the government of the city
of Philadelphia. The districts of Southwark, Northern Liberties,
Kensington, Spring Garden, JMoyamensing, Penn, Richmond, West
Philadelphia and Belmont ceased to have corporate existence. The
boroughs of Frankford, Germantown, Manayunk, White Hall,
Bridesburg and Aramingo lost their franchises ; and the townships
of Passyunk, Blockley, Kingsessing, Roxborough, Bristol, Ger-
mantown, Oxford, Lower Dublin, Moreland, Northern Liberties
(unincorporated), Byberry, Delaware and Penn were abolished, and
all the franchises and property of these governments were trans-
ferred to the city.

The enlarged city was divided into twenty-four wards, and the
Act provided for the election of the proper officers to transact the
business of the municipality.

The management of the Poor department was entirely changed,
not only in the mode of selecting the Guardians, but in the curtailing
of their powers and authority.

Prior to the passage of the x\ct, the Board virtualh' levied,
collected and expended the mone}^ for the relief of the poor ; it
collected head nione}- from arriving immigrants, amounting to as
much as $16000 in one year; and a number of fines, imposed for
various offences, was paid over to the Board. In fact, it was almost
a government within itself.

186 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

This Act revolutionized that. One member of the Board was
to be elected from each ward ; the Guardians thus chosen were to
create the department, and it came under the same rules and regu-
lations as the others. Councils would levy all taxes, including
that for the support of the poor, and would appropriate what they
thought was necessary to maintain the Almshouse and supply the
other needs, to the Guardians of the Poor.

This caused considerable friction and much strong personal
feeling; the Guardians claimed that Councils were penurious,
while the Councilmen, in many cases, charged the Guardians with
extravagance and profligacy. It took a number of years to bring
the two bodies into harmonious working.

The Act consolidated all the business in the county except
that for the relief of the poor. It does seem inconsistent to find
the schools, police, fire, highways, water and other important de-
partments under the city management, and at the same time see
the separate poorhouses managed by district trustees or overseers,
as they have been since they were established. Councils do not
levy the poor tax in those districts, although in all other respects
they come under the same government as the other parts of the
city. So far as the S3'stem of poor relief is concerned, the Act of
Consolidation does not consolidate.

The first election, under the new act, was held on June 6th,
1854, and the following gentlemen, whose names are given accord-
ing to the number of their wards, were elected Guardians : James
G. Peale, John L. Hamelin, L. I.. Crocker, G. W. Cross, F. M.
Adams, John Price Wetherill, Robert P. King, J. Buchanan, Joseph
B. Smith, T. S. Crombarger, J. I. Mathias, L- Schrimick, Townsend
Smith, Wm. F. Potts, L. Henley, Frederick Reel, J. Fallon, J. H.
Bringhurst, Oliver Evans, Edward Dingee and J. N. Marks.

Dr. Joseph D. Steward, Chief Resident Physician, died, and
Dr. Archibald B. Campbell was elected to succeed him.

On May 29th, 1854, Mr. Cummings presented the following:

" Whereas, Various rumors are in circulation as to one of
the members of this Board having been found spending the night
in the Women's Department of the Almshouse : and,

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 187

" Whereas, Such a practice must give rise to suspicion of
improper conduct ; therefore,

" Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the
circumstance of this case and report to the Board."

The President called Air. Flanagan to the chair and took the
floor ; he opposed the appointment of a committee to tr}^ him in
secret, being conscious, from rumors, that he was the person referred
to in the resolution, as asking that a fair and impartial trial might
be had in the matter by the Board itself, acting as a committee.

Mr. Evans moved to strike out all after the word resolved, and
insert that '' when we adjourn, we adjourn to meet on Wednesday
afternoon next, at 3 o'clock, when an investigation into the matter
contained in the preamble may be made, that witnesses may be
present to give evidence thereof."

This was adopted, and when the Board met in accordance with
it, Drs. Budd, Mitchell, Woodward and Eastman of the Almshouse
were present.

They were separately examined as to " whether they knew of a
member of the Board having been found spending the night in the
Women's Department of the Almshouse." Drs. Budd, Mitchell
and Woodward testified that Mr. Townsend Smith, President of
the Board, had spent a night in the Physicians' Room, located in
that portion of the building known as the West Centre, and that
there were no women there. They further testified, as did Dr.
Eastman, that they never knew of au}^ immoral conduct on the
part of Mr. Smith at any time. This closed the investigation, and
a resolution was offered and carried by a large majority, which
exonerated Mr. Smith from all blame.

It was thought that the rumor which caused this investigation
was nothing but spitework, as Mr. Smith was, for many 3'ears, a
useful and active member of the Board, and had served as its
Treasurer.

The new Board organized on the 3d of July, 1S54. Mr. F. M.
Adams was chosen to preside, and S. Snyder Leid}' was con-
tinued as Secretary. Daniel Smith, the experienced Steward, was
re-elected.

188 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

A request was sent to Councils for an appropriation of $5,cco
for the immediate use of the Board. Nearly $100,000 was asked
for to pay the expenses of the department during the balance of
the year.

The new Board had hardly started in, when charges of negli-
gence and corruption were made against some of the members.
The new President, Mr. Adams, who was charged in the news-
papers with purchasing sour flour, demanded an investigation.

After the examination of witnesses, the Board passed a resolu-
tion which completely exonerated him. This was but the begin-
ning, and it did not look as though the community had much
confidence in the new administration.

The cholera again made its appearance in the Almshouse on
July 7th, 1S54. Some few cases of it appeared as late as the begin-
ning of November. Most of the cases were treated in the Smallpox
Hospital near the gate on Darb}^ Road, and in a small building
adjacent to it. There appears to have been about 300 cases of the
disease, of which about one-half proved fatal.

It did not take long to start more scandal. Rumors connect-
ing the name of Mr. George W. Cross, the representative of the
Fourth Ward, with speculative purchases, etc., were freely circu-
lated. A special meeting of the Board was held, " To inquire intO'
abuses alleged to have been made in the purchase of flour within
four months."

Mr. Anson Gray, a member of Councils, certified that Mr.
Cross had purchased 100 barrels from his brother, Mr. Wm. H-
Gray, for the Almhouse. The price was $8.75 per barrel, or 12^
cents advance on the cost of the flour, which was bought from
James Steele & Co.

Mr. Gray said that Gray & Brother charged the Guardians
the same as other parties could purchase the flour for, and no more;,
he fully exculpated Mr. Cross from the suspicion of defrauding
the public by making a profit on the flour.

Mr. Gray further stated, that a member of the old Board had
intimated that if he did not go to see the Controller the bill would
not be passed. This he declined to do.

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 189

The other parties mentioned appeared and corroborated Mr.
Gray's statement.

The Board passed a resolution exonerating Mr. Cross, and
" expressing regrets that slanderous and unfounded rumors should
be circulated reflecting upon the Guardians and respectable busi-
ness men with whom the}- dealt."

Mr. Cross was not so fortunate later on.

An application was made to the Board in December, 1854, for
the admission of 150 paupers into the Almshouse, they having
been brought in a body from New York to Philadelphia.

The Guardians refused to admit them, but to supply their im-
mediate necessities a small appropriation was made.

The conduct of the New York authorities in their attempt to
throw these people on the tax payers of Philadelphia, called for
expression of much indignation on the part of the press and the
community at large. It is a common way of getting rid of unde-
sira,ble burdens, and is practiced even up to the present time, but
not so openly as this was.

Mr. Cross was again brought to the front, and he did not come
out with flying colors as he did before.

At the meeting of the Board, held on April i6th, 1855, ^^'^^
President stated " that an editorial appeared in the Pennsylva7iia7i
on Friday, reflecting seriously on the conduct of a member of this
Board for passing ' poor orders ' in payment of his own private
debts," A committee was appointed to inquire into the matter and
report. "' As one of the members of that committee, I have to say
that Mr. Hamelin and myself called at the office of the Petinsyl-
vmiian and saw Mr. Rice, the proprietor, who informed us that
they had the orders, and if we would call at 3 o'clock we would
learn more in relation to them.'' Mr. Adams said that " after
leaving the office, he met Mr. Edward G. Webb, who is represented
as being connected with the PcinisylvaiiicDi, and after some conver-
sation, Webb exhibited two ' poor orders ' for one dollar each, drawn
in favor of certain persons, and passed to the credit of one Patrick
G. Coyle, a gardener. The said poor orders were signed by G. W.
Cross, a member of this Board."

190 History of Philadelp]iia Alnisliouses and Hospitals.

At a hearing of the case Mr. Patrick G. Coyle was called, and
he stated " that Mr. Cross had owed him $1.25 for trimming some
vines, etc., in his garden ; that he made a bill for the same, sent it
to Mr. Cross' house for collection, but withotit success. He (Mr.
Coyle) finally called on the 31st of March to get payment for the
bill. Mr. Cross said he would call and see him, which he did; he
asked for pen and ink, and inquired if I knew Mr. Quigley, the
grocer. I answered that I did. He (Cross) then filled out an
order for a dollar's worth of groceries, and threw it on the table,
and I asked who the order was for. Cross answered ' for j^ou.' I
said, I'm no pauper and don't need it ; I work for my wants. Cross
then filled another order for the same amount, threw it on the
table and left. I again sent to collect the bill, when Cross said,
I've seen Mr. Coyle, and thought it was stifficient.''

After the article appeared in the papers, Coyle having given
the poor orders to Mr. Webb, Cross called on Coyle and asked him
whether he had seen the publication. Coyle said that he had not,
but supposed it was all trtie. Cross wanted the orders and said there
were men quite as good and better than Coyle, who received these
orders. Coyle also testified that " Cross acted as though he was
sailing under a heavy press of whiskey."

Mr. Cross made a short speech, in which he disclaimed any
intention to defraud the city.

At another meeting of the Board, after the committee's report
was submitted, the following very curious preamble and resolution
were adopted without a dissenting vote :

" Whereas, The Board of Guardians, after a deliberate and
patient investigation of the charges made against George W. Cross,
a member of this Board, to the effect that the said George W. Cross
had given away orders for groceries intended for the relief of the
poor, in payment of his own private debts, this Board are of the
opinion that the testimony of the witnesses produced to substan-
tiate said charges is not of itself sufficient to justify any decisive
action ; yet taken in connection with the admissions of Mr. Cross,
particularly as to his having been, at the time of the occurrence of
the transactions complained of, in a state of intoxication, and inca-

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 11*1

pable of explaining the same satisfactorily, they are compelled to
consider the charges proven ; therefore,

" Resolved^ That George W. Cross be, and he is hereb}^ ex-
pelled from the Board."

It could not be expected that the action of the Board and the
exposure of such contemptible business, would raise the reputation
of the Guardians very much in the estimation of the public. Such
transactions are calculated to bring odium on all connected with
them.

At this time there was considerable comment about certain
members who were in the habit of taking large numbers of their
special friends to the Almshouse on Sunda3^s, and drinking freely
of intoxicating liquors. Liquor was at the command of the Guard-
ians, and some of the best members tried in vain to correct the
abuse of it. The expulsion of Cross, and the denunciation of the
Sabbath sprees in the newspapers in a manner checked it somewhat.

CHAPTER XVIL

GUARDIANS OF THE POOR KNOWN AS BOARD OF BUZZARDS.

THE Guardians elected in the spring of 1855 took their seats
in July. A majority of the old board had been re-elected.
Joseph B. Smith was chosen President, S. Snyder Leidy,
Secretary and Treasurer, and Daniel Smith was unani-
mously elected Steward of the Almshouse. Dr. Robert K. Smith
was elected Chief Resident Physician, in place of Dr. A. B. Camp-
bell. This change caused considerable feeling ; Dr. Campbell
charged that his personal and professional character had been
impugned and threatened suit against some of the members of the
Board.

At a meeting on the 9th of July the following resolution was
adopted :

''^Resolvcd^ That a committee of three be appointed to gather
testimony as to the neglect and inefficiency manifested on the
part of Dr. A. B. Campbell as Chief Resident Physician, to be
prepared to meet any action he may bring against this Board, as
referred to in his communication.''

Dr. Campbell remained in the institution and declared that he
would continue there, notwithstanding the election of Dr. Smith.

The difficulty was adjusted, however, without any legal pro-
ceedings, and Dr. Smith went on duty.

The feeling entertained for the Board of Guardians was clearly
shown when Councils took up the appropriation bills in the fall.
The newspapers had frequently commented upon the alleged " enor-
mous expenditures and the extravagant manner in wliich the busi-
ness of the Board was carried on." Councils refused to make the
appropriations asked for. All kinds of charges were made against
the Guardians, and the Board referred the whole subject to a com-
mittee for consideration. At the meeting of the Guardians held on
September 17th, 1855, Mr. Bringhurst presented the following pre-
amble and resolutions as a report from the committee, and they
were adopted as a reply to the charges made.
192

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. lf.>8

'' WherKas, The Board of Guardians of the Poor of the City
of Philadelphia, though the}- have been aware that there had
appeared in some of the newspapers, from time to time, in different
forms, most gross and unjustifiable statements and imputations in
respect to the management of the department under their care,
originating, as was supposed, from some sources entitled to but little
consideration and prompted by unworthy motives, have forborne to
publicly notice them, trusting that both the character and motives
of the professional fault-finders would be appreciated as they
deserved.

'' But as these statements and imputations have been echoed in
the City Councils, and have been indorsed by members with addi-
tions, as appears b}^ the published proceedings of the Common
Council on Thursday last, and as forbearance to notice them from
this source might be considered as an admission of their truth, it
is deemed proper, in vindication of themselves, to characterize
these allegations in respect to this department as being, in the
mildest sense they deserve, gross and untrue exaggerations ; and,
as preliminary to the connection of the matter referred to, it may
be well to notice that, since the Act of Consolidation went into
effect, the members of the Board of Guardians of the Poor became
such by virtue of election by the same constituency that placed
members of Councils in positions they occupy, except as to those
whose constituents have no direct interest in the department, and
who, though they are not taxed for its support, are allowed a con-
trol in its affairs through their representatives ; thus exhibiting the
anomaly of representation without taxation. And it is fair to
assume that as much respect was had b}- their constituents in the
selection of men who, from their intelligence, public spirit and
fidelity to the public interests, are as much entitled to public confi-
dence as they selected and elected to other positions. The}' also
bear their full share of burthen of this communit}- with their
fellows, in or out of office.

" One member of Councils is reported to have said that the
expenses of the Almshouse had doubled within a 3'ear or two, and
attributed the cause to the inefficienc}- of this Board. As the alle-

104 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

gation itself is not a fact, the conclusion has no support. The
actual total expenditures of the Guardians for the support of the
House, and on account of the manufactory, farm and in and about
the premises, from the 20th of May, 1S53, to the 20th of IMay,
1854, was $136,606.56. There were during that time provisions,
clothing, medicines, medical attendance, nurses and attendants for
the insane and sick, with their board, beds, bedding and all other
necessaries furnished for an average of 1,828 inmates, consisting of
400 lunatics, 400 sick and diseased, the aged, the infirm, the
maimed, the blind, the idiotic, the deformed, the ruptured, the
incurable and others hopelessly addicted to habits which wholly
unfits them for self-maintenance, making a cost of $1.44 per week
for each ; while the total expenditures for the same purposes from
July 2d, 1854, to July 2d, 1855, was $189,502.17, for an average
population of 2,147 of the same description, making a cost of $1.69
per week for each.

" The total cost of the House has been increased by the
increase of population, and the increase of cost of each article of
supplies during the past over the previous year, as all house-
keepers, at least, have ample proof^ by extra draft on the pocket.
In view of these facts the expenditures of the Board, under the
present organization, compared to that of former Boards, works no
disparagement to the present is clear to a demonstration.

'' The increase of population, too, can be be accounted for upon
facts which can not have failed to present themselves to all reflect-
ing minds, which ought to excite, did excite, and brought into
active and effective operation the sympathies of the community
during the past year, viz : the general depression of business, the
lack of employment for the mechanics and the laboring people —
male and female — the low price of labor when obtained, and the
high prices of almost every necessary, reluctantly compelled many
who had aged, infirm, blind, crippled or sick dependents upon them
for support to send them to the Almshouse, as a relief to them-
selves, from a burthen they were unable to bear; for the same
reason, too, in connection with the high price of fuel of all kinds,
the out-door expenditures were greatly increased during the last

History of Pliiladelphia Ahiisliouses and Hospitals. li>.)

winter over previous years. But these are at present at as low a
point as they have been for years, and further reduction, it is
believed, will tend to swell the population of the House.

" A little reflection on the subject and a little trouble to obtain
information, which was at all times obtainable, and a discreet
use of both, would have saved the member from the position
he has placed himself in, of an accuser of the present Board of
Guardians of " inefhcienc}-," in the absence of facts to support the
accusation.

" In respect to the alleged fact that persons go to the Alms-
house, get married, and have children there, the present Board
have no knowledge, and presume that if such things ever did
happen there (and it is presumed that such cases are rare at any
time) it was previous to the connection of any of the present mem-
bers of the Board under its present organization.

" AxD Whereas, Another member is reported to have said :
' That he could lay his hand on some $8,000 which had been
expended for segars, brandies, etc., and how much more he was
unable to say, in banqueting at the Almshouse.'

" If the allegation is intended to be understood as meaning an
actual expenditure (and it seems to be a fair inference from the
statement that it was so intended) under the present organization
of the Board, for banqueting b}' the Guardians, in which they parti-
cipated, or were accessory to, he has placed himself in the position
of having determined to ' go it blind ' in assailing the official acts,
integrity and moral standing of men who can boldly challenge an
equal degree of the respect and confidence of the community at
large for all the qualities, including that of fidelity to public trust,
which constitute good citizens, as the member himself. One thing
is certain, a much longer residence in this community has afforded
the people greater opportunities for scrutinizing and forming an
opinion of them.

''Charit3^ however, dictates the conclusion that ignorance of
the subject, as evinced by his allegation, and a forgetfulness, in
his case at least, of the respect due from a gentlemen to his equals,
had led him to make the assertion that he could lav his hand on

196 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

what has no existence in point of fact, and in attempting to do
which he would discover that he would be in the condition of the
Irishman and the flea — it would be absent.

" The allegation is too monstrous for even the more guUable
to swallow as a fact, and is dismissed with the suggestion that if
the gentleman would act upon the homely but wise rule, '" Be sure
you are right, then go ahead,' and not upon that of go ahead,
whether you are right or wrong, he would not be so likely to com-
mit acts of injustice and wrong against others.

" And Whereas, Another member is reported as having com-
mented upon the same subject in condemnation of the Guardians,
closing with an insinuation as to the paternit}' of some of the
children born in the xAlmshouse, which maj^ have been intended as
a joke, and if so he is welcome to enjoy it, but if otherwise
intended it might be thrown back with propriety upon himself.
One thing is a serious fact, and that is that the locality he specially
represents has its full share of representatives in the Almshouse
in the shape of babies.

"The delay of Councils in making an appropriation for the
use of the Guardians in support of the department is working in
direct increase of expenditures far exceeding any made in the way
in which some of the members are so flippantly eloquent in com-
plaint of, from the fact that purchases cannot be made in view of
the present condition of affairs from less than from 8 to 12 per
cent, advance upon prices at which they could be obtained under a
more favorable one.

" That supplies must be furnished at the House is an impera-
tive necessity demanded by every sentiment of humanity. To
permit the unfortunate creatures herein described to suff"er cannot,
and will not, be tolerated in a community whose people are ever
read}^ voluntarily, to send thousands and tens of thousands of
dollars to relieve the sufferings of the destitute in distant comiiiii-
nities, therefore,

" Resolved, That the assertion that brandy, wine or other
spirituous liquors are used by the members of this Board, or have
been since its organization, is maliciously false in ever}^ particular,

History of Pliiladelphia Alinslioiises and Hospitals. VJl

and those who made such assertions must have known this or
possessed no knowledge of what they were speaking.

" Resolved, That dinners are not furnished this Board, nor
ever have been since its existence.

" Resolved^ That the delay by the Councils to make the neces-
sary appropriation to draw m' arrants upon, by this Board, is attended
with no other results than of injury to the credit of the Board,
causing a higher price to be paid for such goods as the}" are com-
pelled to bu}', thereby increasing the taxes to that extent, which
the citizens have to pay."

This shows the feeling that existed between the members of
Councils and the Board of Guardians, and one can form an opinion
as to the character of the men of both bodies. It did not have au}-
effect on the Councilmen, and the appropriations were still kept
back. The credit of the city at that period was not very high, and
the Guardians were compelled to get along as well as they were
able under such circumstances.

Hon. Robert T. Conrad, Mayor of the city, in his annual
message to Councils, in February, 1856, referred to the manage-
ment of the Department of the Poor in ver}' strong language, and
said : " The call made upon this department has remained unan-
swered. There is, perhaps, no branch of the government in rela-
tion to which there is so ample scope for improvement and reform.
The attention of Councils is respectively invited to the recommenda-
tions made on this subject in a former message. An enlightened
and prudent revision of the present S3^stem, in all its details, would
be attended with important results and advantages, not only by
checking the present inordinate expenditure, but b}' the discourage-
ment of idleness and pauperism."

Of course this was answered by the Guardians, and the}"
adopted resolutions in which they expressed their regrets "that the
misrepresentations to which this Board has been subjected are being
continued ; and they invited Councils to appoint a Special Com-
mittee of Investigation to inquire into the details of the policy
pursued by the Board."

The Guardians subsequently concluded to discontinue all out-

11>8 History of Philadelphia Alin-^houses and Hospital'^.

door relief, except in cases of sickness. Even after the appropria-
tions were made for the j^ear 1856 the Board found that it could not
continue its s\'steni of out-door relief on such an extensive scale.

On the 7th of July, 1856, a new Board was organized by the
election of Mr. Oliver Evans as President, and F. A. Server as
Treasurer. Dr. A. B. Campbell was reinstated in his old position
of Chief Resident Physician of the Almshouse. As Air. Daniel
Smith did not desire to continue any longer as Steward, Mr. Charles
Murphy was chosen to succeed him.

The Board consisted of Messrs. John F. Heishley, Wm. T.
Lafferty, A. R. Kauffman, Robert Selfridge, John R. Angney, Will-
iam Riddle, F. A, Server, John Hartman, N. R. Moseley, Charles
Taylor, James D. Brown, John Dunlap, Marshall Heuzey, William
F. Potts, Andrew Hackett, James Smith, James Lloyd, John H.
Bringhurst, Oliver Evans, Isaac M. Post and Alex. C. Garvin.

The majority of them were elected by the Democrats. They
made an effort to reduce the expenditures, but very soon after they
assumed the management of the Department they were called the
" Board of Buzzards," and were known as such for many years.

After Hon. Richard Vaux had been inducted into office as
Mayor, he requested a report from Dr. Campbell, as to the condi-
tions existing in the Almshouse. The following extracts from the
report of the Chief Resident Physician show a terrible state of
affairs, and reflect no credit upon any one connected with the man-
agement of the institution. The doctor said :

" I have the honor to state : This institution, usually called
the Almshouse, comprises within it a smallpox hospital, a lunatic
asylum, a children's asylum, a lying-in department, a nursery, a
hospital for medical, surgical, venerial and mania-a-potu cases ;
besides the Almshouse properly so called, which is in reality an
infirmary for the blind, the lame, the superannuated, and other
incurables so decrepit as not to be able to earn for themselves a
livelihood.

" The number of able-bodied men and women, although to the
eye of the casual observer apparently large, is really comparatively
small and consists chiefly of those vagrants who spend their lives in

History of Philadelplii i Almsliouses and Mos])itals. 1!'I»

alternating between the low down dens of vice throngliont the
city, the county prison and this institution,

'' These are the ones who disgrace themselves and hunianit}^
and by their presence bring a stigma upon the afflicted and tlie
unfortunate, who are compelled here to seek relief and support,
which would not attach to them if this place was in name, and, in
the opinion of man}^ in the community, what it is in reality, a hos-
pital. These constitute the proper subjects for a House of Cor-
rection, which is so urgently required.

" This building, although it covers an area of sixteen acres of
ground, is even now too small in many of the wards to furnish
accommodations for the sick ; and, from its construction does not
permit encroachments to be made from the men's side of the differ-
ent departments upon the women's side. So that while the men's
side of the lunatic asj^lum and the women's side of the hospital
still have nearly room enough, the women's side of the lunatic
asylum requires now one-third more room for the present number ;
in the open wards many sleep on the floor, and in each of the cells,
80 in number, which should be used by one alone, have to be occu-
pied by two, and in some cases by three at one time ; and the men's
side of the hospital would require the whole wing now occupied
b}' the children's as^-lum for its accommodation.

" On the third floor, men's medical wards, the wards are
full, and there have been 100 sick crowded into a long garret, about
7 feet high b}' 18 feet wide, with no ventilation, and no means of
discharging the impure exhalations arising from the bodies and
breaths, but the sliding windows, one pane of glass in height, the
draft from which being over the heads of the beds, was as danger-
ous almost as their foetid emanations. There are only a few-
patients at this moment in these garrets, but the season approaches
when they will be more fully occupied. On the second floor white
men, with diseased e3-es, occupy one side, and black men with sur-
gical and venereal diseases, boys and men indiscriminatel}- mingled,
occupy the other side of the same ward ; and, at the same time, the
beds are too numerous in the other wards.

''The effect of this over-crowding is, that all the cases are

200 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

much longer in recovering than they would otherwise be, and in
many instances men remain blind who under more advantageous cir-
cumstances would have recovered their sight.

" But the most disastrous results from crowding and want of
ventilation occur on the first floor. For years past there has not
been a bed unoccupied, and sometimes there is a patient sleeping
on the floor for every one on a bedstead — once even when the hall
was filled with bedsteads. The result is an erysipelatous and gan-
grenous atmosphere pervades them in spite of my most strenuous
efforts. I have everything taken out of each ward at a time. It
is whitewashed, and the floors and windows are scrubbed ; the bed-
steads are scrubbed and varnished, and when dry replaced ; every
article of bed-clothing is fresh from the wash-tubs, and the bed-
sacks are filled with fresh straw ; but this infection lingers, though
in a lighter degree.

" The consequence of this has been, that if a patient is brought
in with his throat cut, although the wound is not mortal, he dies of
gangrene. If an amputation be performed, the man, who should
recover, dies in a week of gangrene in the stump. If a minor
operation be done, erysipelas attacks the wound, and it is much
longer than it should be in healing.

" The unfortunate condition of things on this floor might be,
to some considerable extent, remedied by transferring the adjoining
ward from the children's asylum to the men's surgical wards.

" This room could be spared from the children's asylum, with
some inconvenience it is true, but without serious detriment to the
interests of that department. That transfer, however, would be
but temporary relief, and to a very limited extent. It might, and
would probably, aid in removing the hospital gangrene.

" But the hospital now requires the whole of the children's
wing, and every year the aggregate number of patients increases.

" Not only the wants of the hospital, but humanity and phi-
lanthropy demand that an asylum for the children should be pro-
vided elsewhere than within the v/alls of the Almshouse.

" It admits of a question, as to each one of the grown persons,
whether the misfortunes which have brought them to this place

Histor}' of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. liOl

liave been altogether the result of the ageiic}^ of other people ; but
as to the helpless orphans, for they are all orphans or worse off,
who are thrown upon the city for support, education and protec-
tion, they are innocent of any agency in their own unhappy lot.

'' Not only our duty to God, but a wise economy demands that
they be brought up away from the pernicious influences which
must operate on them, and will reach them in spite of all precau-
tions, within this building. They may be educated to become use-
ful members of society, or they may be trained to prey upon the
community which has neglected them.

" Why not, if possible, save the future from the opprobrium
of ever having been the inmate of an almshouse? This object
especially commends itself to the heart of every benevolent citizen.

'' The women's side of both the lunatic asylum and the hospi-
tal are heated by steam and are well ventilated. The air is admit-
ted into the chambers in the cellars, where it is heated by coils of
steam pipes, and is delivered into each ward near the ceiling ; while
the vitiated air is drawn from the rooms through openings near the
floor, and is carried off by flues, w^hich conduct to a shaft rising
many feet above the roof of the building.

" By this means the wards are at the same time warmed and
thoroughl}^ ventilated. ■

"A similar arrangement is required on the men's side of both
buildings, for sanitary purposes as well as to avoid the danger of set-
ting them on fire, particularly on the lunatic side, where the men con-
gregate around the stoves, and annually destroy large quantities of
■clothing by scorching it, and from the filthy habits of many of them,
•often make the atmosphere redolent with bad odors. It is a matter of
astonishment that the house has not long since been burnt down.

''A conflagration in a place where there are so many helpless
lunatics or disabled sick would be terrible, beyond the power o^
language to describe.

'' None but those who occupy the house or pass through it
after nightfall can appreciate the difficulties, anno3'ances and vexa-
tions which arise from the use of oil in small hand-lamps. The
building is the embodiment of gloom. The patients, in their desire

202 History of Philadelpliia Almshouses and Hospitals.

to increase the quantity of liglit, constantly, although every effort
is made to prevent it, have the lamps smoking. The smoke irri-
tates the lungs of the consumptives and others afflicted with dis-
eases of the air-passages, and they are wearied out with coughing
until, exhausted, they fall asleep; it also soils the walls and
the clothing.

" The introduction of gas would aid the assistants in the
administration of medicines and in performing their offices for the
sick, and would prevent much rascality, pilfering and eloping.
Gas is so much cheaper than oil that within three years the cost of
its introduction would be made up by its use and ever after be a
saving to the city.

"A laundry is very much needed ; the expense of feeding and
clothing the large number of washerwomen necessary to wash the
clothing of from two to three thousand persons, together with the
bedding of so large a hospital, would more than pay for such an
establishment. The washing would be done better, quicker and
more economically, because the clothing would last longer and
there would be less of it stolen and lost.

" There is not a water closet in the hospital ; the want of
such an essential arrangement is productive of great annoyance,
inconvenience and injury, particularly in wards having no ventila-
tion, and adds greatly to the labors of the house.

" Convalescent patients are compelled to go from the highest
and most distant wards and cross a yard at all seasons, and through
the rain and snow to reach the offices. On the men's side there is
but one bath tub, which is altogether insufficient for the uses of
the sick. Bathing should be one-half the curative agency in the
treament of many diseases.

" On the women's side of the Lunatic Asylum there has been
put up and nearly completed a series of water closets, baths and sinks
as good as, if not superior to any other in the country. A similar ar-
rangement should be constructed in several other parts of the house."

The doctor certainly painted a horrible picture, and it is to be
hoped that there were no other wants that he overlooked or forgot to
mention. Things were very different then from what they are now.

CHAPTER XVIII.

MEMBERS OF BOARD CHARGED WITH SELLING DEAD BODIES.

THE Board of Guardians sent the following communication
to the Select and Common Councils on September ist, 1856:
"The Board of Guardians of. the Poor feel constrained
to again make application for an adequate appropriation for
the remainder of the present year, for the purpose of out-door relief
to the poor of the consolidated City of Philadelphia.

" In doing so, we deem it proper to give such explanation of
the operation, character and necessity of this kind of relief, as 'may
serve to correct erroneous impressions in regard to it, and will also
relieve those who immediately preceded us from the charge of a
lavish and improvident expenditure of the amount appropriated to
the out-door account.

" Before we proceed further, it may be proper to say (as 3'ou
may see by answers we have given to certain interrogatories ad-
dressed to us lately) that to the out-door account is charged the
salaries of Secretary, Out-door Agent, Visitors, Out-door Physicians
and Apothecaries, rents of offices and expense generally outside of
the Almshouse, in addition to the proper relief given to the poor.

" To show that the sum appropriated for the present year
for this item has not fallen short through extravagance in its ex-
penditure, but because of the refusal of the last Councils to furnish
an adequate sum for the purpose, we need only refer to the amount
heretofore expended for the same purpose.

" By the published statements, which are accessible at any
time, it will be seen that the account for out-door relief for the year
ending May 20, 1854, the year preceding the consolidation of the
city, reached the amount of $67,442 ; of this sum $33,986 was ex-
pended for fuel, and over $20,000 in groceries and money to the
poor.

" The winter of 1854-1855 having been one of unusual dis-
tress among the poor, there was an increased demand for out-door

2' 3

204 History of Philadelpliia Almshouses and Hospitals.

aid, and we accordingly find that the amount expended in the year
1855 reached the sum of $102,998, of which $52,580 were for fuel,
$27,395 i^ groceries and $4,640 in money. It will thus be seen
that over $84,000 were expended during the year 1855, outside of
the Almshouse, in proper relief for the distresses of the poor.

" As required by the act of consolidation, an estimate of the
amount required for the expenses of the Almshouse for the current
year was furnished to the late Councils, divided into different heads,
under which our statements are detailed. For the out-door account
the sum asked for was $83,950, $19,000 less than was expended
in 1855. Much effort having been made during the last winter
to reduce the out-door account expenditure ; it had been so suc-
cessful that a redtiction of nearly 20 per cent, was thus proposed
in this item. But this was considered as great a reduction as it
cotild bear, and it was not supposed that Councils would for a mo-
ment think of still further reducing this sum.

" But in fixing the appropriation they, in their eleventh-hour
zeal for economy, and with a view of keeping down the rate of tax-
ation, saw fit to reduce the amount for this item — although the
Finance Committee reported in favor of $73,950 — to the sum of
$53,950; that is, thirty thousand dollars below the sum deemed
requisite by the Board of Guardians, and but little more than half
the amount expended the preceding 3^ear for the same purpose.

" By referring to our statements it will also be observed that
the cost of fuel constitutes nearly one-half of the out-door expenses,
and it is to be remembered that this expenditure is confined to the
winter months. Hence it was, that, in accordance with the usual
custom, contracts were made before the commencement of winter
for the supply of coal and wood, for the greater portion of it was
distributed to the poor last winter before Councils fixed the bill of
appropriations for the Almshouse for the present year.

" And although there was a large reduction in the amount of
fuel distributed the last, in comparison with the previous winter,
this item was enough to consume some three-fifths of the whole
amount appropriated to the out-door account, and was required to
be paid immediately at the close of winter.

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 20.')

" It will thus be seen that when, in addition to this sum for
fuel, we deduct the other charges to this account for salaries, rents,
bonded and support cases, etc., etc., there remained but little to
relieve the distresses of thousands who have been or are to be aided
in being kept out of the iVlmshouse by a little seasonable aid in
groceries, and, to a small extent, in money.

*' Upon the propriety and necessity of out-door relief in certain
cases, but a word, we think, is necessary. Is it not better to give
25, jj or 50 cents a w-eek to a poor person in distress, for a short
or a long time, than to send them to the x'llmshouse to be supported
at an average cost of $1.50 per week ? And second, is it not more
consistent with the requirements of humanity to render this little
aid to the unfortunates, who are striving still to help themselves,
and can yet claim their little home, than, by refusing, to consign
them at once to the wards of a house, in which, however diverse
may ha^'e been their former condition, all must be placed on one
common level.

" The assistance of persons in distress, outside of the Alms-
house, is a custom of long standing. It had its origin, doubtless,
in the benevolent consciousness that there are poor outside, as de-
serving as those inside of the Almshouse, and that it would be
doing a wrong to such, to force them into the house, if a small
amount of assistance would prevent it. Laws, too, regulating this
form of relief, were enacted long before our da3'S. Their force, we
presume, is in no respect lessened by the Act of Consolidation ;
and their propriety, we consider, as enjoined alike by the dictates
of humanity and the principles of sound economy.

" But it is to your bodies we must now look for the means
requisite for the performance of our duties in this matter. With
those in whom resides the power will rest the responsibility' of a
failure to provide the means for the necessary expenditure. If
your predecessors have, as we believe, inordinatel}^ and capricionsl}'
cut down the amount to be expended for out-door relief, we do not
believe that it will either meet the approbation of 3'our own judg-
ments, or the approval of our citizens, to perpetuate this wrong.

" It has been and is our constant aim to keep down the expendi-

206 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

tures of the department under our control, and make it as little as
possible a burden to our heavily-taxed community, and we think
that an examination and comparison of its expenditures will com-
pare favorably with any other similar institution.

" In respect to the character of those receiving outside assist-
ance— if many become its recipients because of imprudence or im-
providence, still when they become sick or afflicted, wath no friends
to support them, we think it better to give them a little outside
aid, and discourage their entrance into the Almshouse as long as
possible as a matter of economy, as well as with a view to cherish
that remnant of pride against becoming a public charge in a public"
institution ; for when once this habit is acquired, it is difflcult to
eradicate.

" But there is also a large class — those who have enjoyed
brighter and better days, but whom misfortune has visited with a
heavy hand in their old age — to whom the thought of the Alms-
house is more terrible than death. This is the class by whom the
little pittance that we give is most thankfully received, and serves,
when joined perchance with a little gained by some light labor or
with the assistance of some early friend, to eke out a scanty
existence.

" Now, if the door of relief is to be shut for the remainder of
the year upon those who have been supported in the past b}^ us, it
will easily be seen that, while it will be the cause of vast suffering,
it will also greatly increase the expenses of the house. While
many will only enter the Almshouse at the last extremity, a large
proportion of those whom we have aided outside, probably one-half,
often with children or decrepit friends depending upon them, will
be forced into the Almshouse, and instead of twenty or twent3'-five
dollars per annum, they will cost the city three or four times as
much."

This document was signed b}^ Oliver Evans, President.

There appears to have been rumors of all kinds in circulation
about the action of some of the members of the Board or officers of
the house, and the newspapers published some of this town talk.
The Guardians were much annoyed and occasionall}^ felt compelled

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. :i<)7

to take some notice of these reports. The records show that Mr,
Potts offered the following preambles and resolution at a meeting of
the Board held in the latter part of the year :

" Whereas, An article appeared in the Daily A^ezvs on Tues-
day last, charging upon a member of this Board the infani}- of
prostituting his office to his own personal profit in making mer
chandize of the bodies of deceased paupers ; and

" Whereas, The odium of this mercenar}' and sacreligious
imputation rests equally upon us all, inasmuch as the editorial
failed to publish the name of the offending party ; therefore

''Resolved^ That a committee of three be appointed to call upon
the editor of that paper, obtain his authorit}- for the statement,
ascertain the name of the guilty member, investigate the facts of
the case and report to the Board at the next stated meeting."

The preambles and resolutions were adopted, and Messrs.
Potts, Garvin and Dunlap were appointed as the committee.

The chairman and a member of the committee called upon the
editors of the paper, and, after stating their business, requested the
name of the member implicated. He stated several reasons for
refusing to give the name, but said that he would give such infor-
mation as, if properh' investigated, would prove the truth of what
he had asserted.

In pursuing the investigation, the chairman procured a copv
of the deaths from the officers of the House and the registr}- of
burials from the graveyard, for the use of the committee. On such
a reported cop3^ he presented a partial report, in which he stated
that there is a discrepancy of twentj^-one bodies between the deaths
and the number of burials, which deficiency was admitted at the
time by a member of the committee, but which admission was
based on the presumption that he was acting with high-minded,
honorable men, and that information received from them was
reliable.

The majority of the committee reported: "These gentlemen
went on to show that no account was kept at the graveyard of the
number of burials, and the onl}- records were the small pieces of
paper tacked on the heads of the coffins, on which the names, etc.,

208 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

were written, and are liable to be removed, from various causes
before the coffins reach the graveyard, and j^our committee has
been informed that such notices have been found and frequently
picked up on the grounds of the institution."

That was the way the majority accounted for the discrepancy ;
"the papers may have been lost from the coffins, and then there
would be nothing to show that the bodies had been buried." Mr.
Potts was censured for his conduct in pursuing the investigation,
and the report concluded by recommending that the House Agent
and the Superintendent of the grave\'ard be furnished with suit-
able books to keep records of deaths and burials.

Mr. Potts, the chairman, presented a minority report, but the
majority of the Board would not allow it to be read or to be entered
on the minutes.

The newspapers denounced the majority of the Board for their
action in stifling the investigation. The name of Dr. Mosel}^, a
member of the Board, was freely mentioned as being the principal
one connected with the sale of bodies, and it was charged that the
majority made themselves accomplices.

It is not surprising that they were known as the " Board of
Buzzards."

It is very evident that Councils had but little confidence in the
Board as a body ; while there were some reputable gentlemen con-
nected with it, the majority did not command much respect in the
community. Their communications to Councils did not seem to
have much weight, and but little attention was paid to them.
Reductions in the amounts asked for w^ere made by wholesale.
The minutes of the Board record another appeal, which was sent
on November 24, 1856, in which occurs the following choice lan-
guage : " The Board of Guardians of the Department of the Poor
of the City of Philadelphia, having submitted their annual esti-
mate for the year 1857, and having learned from some of the mem-
bers of Councils that the items are too high, we candidly and sin-
cerely appeal to you as men, as representatives of this great
metropolis, to weigh well the interests of this department. Before
your biased minds take charge of your better judgment, we most

History of Pliiladelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 209

cordiall}^ and sincerely solicit your lionorable body to pay us a
flying visit, examine the institution in all its branches and judge
for yourselves of the aged, the blind and infirm who are withering
out their existence upon the charity of our generous citizens in
this enlightened and Christian community. Let us once more
plead to you again to look back for half a century and examine
an}' one institution in this commonwealth, and then say what takes
better care of those who are poor and need}- than Philadelphia.

'' Our department can boast, and years of toil can vouch for it,
that it is one of the best governed institiitions in America for clean-
liness, comfort and sustenance ; always making it an ornament to
this great city, and which makes the hearts of the aged and father-
less rejoice, praising the Maker of the Great Universe that it is far
better to be poor and needy than to serve out a life of career in your
prisons. Christian hearts and hands are always open and more
ready to give than to receive. How many poor are there in this
vast metropolis whose pride buoys them up, and they go begging
from door to door to keep them from being compelled to enter the
Almshouse as public paupers ? "

Here followed an argument for outdoor relief, similar to previ-
ous ones sent, after which the paper reads : " Examine well and see
that the poor tax laid for the year 1856 is but 13 cents on the hun-
dred dollars, while the other departments are of still greater char-
acter and for what benefit ? Years of experience have attested the
wise legislation c^i our City fathers, and has proved the sagacit}'
of their conduct, by being just to their constituents. To railroad
companies, of private interest to these representatives, the public
justly attribute the cause of our bankruptcy. By robbing the
poor and needy, who are dependent on the cold charity of our citi-
zens. How many millions of dollars have been squandered awaj-
by these knavish transactions and unjust intrigues of corporate
powers ? We again ask you to remember the poor. The cold and
cheerless winter is coming on us again ; man3% ver}- many of the
wretched and miserable creatures who have no homes, no friends to
cherish them in their feebleness and old age, devoid of sound intel-
lect, lame and blind, go dragging out their pitiful existence over
14

210 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

our thoroughfares, begging from door to door, and die upon our
streets or in some miserable hovel, or are cast into the Almshouse,
where pride withers and the body wastes away in dark oblivion.

" Our estimate, as presented to your honorable bodies, has
been carefully examined by the Committee of Accounts, and we
find, by the items and costs of this year (1856), thus far is as low
as can be made. The rapid increase of persons being admitted
into the House, now 168 more than the same time last year, and
averaging at this rate, by the ist of February, 1857, there can be
no doubt there will be upwards of 2500 persons within the walls
of Blockley Almshouse, at a cost of $1.50 per week, and all this
increase has been brought on b}^ cutting off this out-door relief
from those who are still able and willing to support themselves in
some light work. Does not reason and sound sense admit, that
if $50,000 will relieve those asking alms on the outside of the
institution and keep them from going to the Almshouse, where
should they be consigned through unwise legislation, it will cost
the city over $150,000 at $1.50 per week ; and, while there, should
sickness overtake them, they will be compelled to go under medical
treatment, averaging at least 30 to 50 cents per week for medicines,
nurses, etc. Take all these things into consideration before you
decide. You will perhaps say to yourselves our taxes are too high,
they must be reduced. Yes, gentlemen, let us tell you your taxes
were less when the old corporations were in existence than at pre-
sent with the consolidated powers. Look at them and contrast the
difference, where are they squandered away? Look at your High-
way Department, your Police system and Railroad Knavery, and
then do not say it is in the Poor Department. These are weighty
measures, which we trust your honorable bodies will take into due
consideration. Leave not the credit of this institution be swept
away and suffer, while we are compelled to look to your august
bodies to bear out its reputation.

*' One word before you decide ; let us again as a body, a Boprd
of Guardians, solicit your Committee on Poor, {not your poor com-
mittee) to visit this institution in general and duly examine it in
all its various branches ; view it carefully ; let not prejudices sway

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 211

your feelings toward the unfortunate, for it is not those on the out
side who know the wants of those within the walls of the Alms-
house better than they who are daily connected with it, and if we
wdsely err let us assure you it is not of the heart bat of the head,
and we are ahvays ready and willing to serve our constituents
towards the unfortunates, who are generously and liberally sup-
ported by the citizens of Philadelphia."

This appeal was signed by Oliver Kvans, President.

There is a marked difference in the reports of the conditions
in the institution as presented b}^ the Guardians and as represented
by Dr. Campbell. They certainly did not look at things through
the same glasses. The doctor reported that everything was wrong
and in a horrible condition ; the Board, on the contrary, sa}^ " it is
one of the best governed institutions in America, for cleanliness,
comfort and sustenance ; always making it an ornament to this
great city, which makes the hearts of the aged and fatherless
rejoice, praising the Maker of the Great Universe, etc."

After making this assertion they insist upon the Council-
men " visiting the institution and inspecting it in all its various
branches." This did not look as though they feared an examina-
tion of the conditions.

It would puzzle one to form an opinion under these circum-
stances ; probably both sides exaggerated, and if it were possible
to arrive at a " happy medium," one might get near to the truth.

CHAPTER XIX.

DR. JAMES McCLINTOCK ELECTED— VISITING PHYSICIANS RESIGN—

RESIDENT PHYSICIANS LEAVE— VISITS OF STUDENTS

STOPPED— GAS INTRODUCED.

IN June, 1857, Dr. A. B. Campbell, Chief Resident Physician,
resigned his position, and Dr. James McClintock was elected
to fill the vacancy. This selection caused considerable excite-
ment in the medical fraternity. The resignations of the
members of the Visiting Staff were tendered to the Board of Guard-
ians, and were simply "laid on the table" by that body. Six of
the Resident Physicians resigned and left the institution ; these
vacancies were filled by the election of others in their places. A
complete change in the management of the medical department
took place, and the visits of students were stopped.

The principal objection to Dr. McClintock was that he manu-
factured some medical remedies, the contents of which he would
not divulge. Consequently the medical gentlemen denounced him
as a " quack doctor," although his knowledge and abilities as a
physician were unquestionable.

A panic occurred in the winter of 1857-1858, which threw a
large number of working people out of employment and caused
great suffering. Relief Committees were formed in every ward
and they distributed the necessaries of life to many of the sufferers.
The census of the House for January, 1858 shows a popula-
tion of more than 3000 inmates and the Board was compelled to
refuse admission to a great many applicants. The out-door relief
distributed by the Guardians in one month comprised $2,504.84
worth of groceries, 1,571 tons of coal and 351 cords of wood. The
number of persons assisted in this manner was 3,556.

A contract was made with Samuel Sweeton & Brother, in
March, 1858, to introduce gas pipes, etc., into the institution, for
the sum of $5,992.35. The work appears to have been done satis-
factorily, as the Board passed a resolution to that effect, and recom-
mended the contractors as first-class mechanics.
212

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 213

At the meeting of the Board held on March 15th, 1858, an
affidavit was read, which was signed and sworn to by seven women
and two men, in which they testified that " they had severally
called on James Mackin, Visitor of the Guardians of the Poor, at
his office. No. 1347 North Front street, and solicited relief, of which
they are severally in want, and received for answer, ' there is noth-
ing here for the Dutch.' "

The matter was referred to a special committee for investiga-
tion, but there is nothing to show that any action was taken to
punish the official.

The Board elected to serve for 1858-1859, consisted of Alessrs.
A. J. Preall, J. L. Hamlin, James Armstrong, Hugh Gamble, Jacob
C. Freno, C C. Overbeck, Wm. Budd, H. E. Smith, J. F. McClel-
land, R. W. Kensil, James D. Brown, A. H. Dunlap, Marshall
Henzey, George Huhn, Joshua Kames, J. S. Riehl, Edward Sherr\^,
John A. Fisher, George P. Oliver, J. J. Allison, William Dawson,
Oliver Brownell and J. J, Hoopes.

Dr. George Huhn was elected President, John A. Fisher, Treas-
urer ; Marshall Henzey, a member of the Board, Steward of the
Almshouse, and Dr. R. K. Smith was reinstated in his former posi-
tion of Chief Resident Physician.

The following letter was read after the election had taken place :

" To THE Board of Guardians of the Poor :

" Gentlemen — On the 8th of June, 1857, the Chief Resident
Physician resigned his place here, and I was elected to fill the
vacancy, and commenced my duties on the 20th of the same month.
In July I was re-elected.

'' In seeking the position I looked upon it as a professional
station, and not a political place. I requested and received votes
from gentlemen of both political parties then on the Board.

''I have faithfully discharged the duties of the place, and by
economical management of the department under my care, in which
I was greatly assisted by Charles Murphy, Esq., Steward, I have
saved for the public a sum much greater than my salar3^

" If you, gentlemen, view the place a professional station, I
would be pleased if you will retain me, and I shall discharge the

214 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

duties faithfully, as I have heretofore done ; but if you have deter-
termined to make it a political place, and a man whose qualifica-
tions no one doubts or denies, is to be proscribed because he is a
Democrat, I am perfectly willing to be displaced,

" I am, gentlemen, very respectfully yours, &c.

"James McClintock,
" Chief Resident Physician,^''

On the 19th of July, 1858, at the instigation of Dr. Smith,
Mr. Preall offered a resolution which stated " that as all objections
have been removed which prevented the medical gentlemen from ac-
cepting office of this kind in the institution, and the medical pro-
fession of Philadelphia are desirous of re-establishing the relations
which formerly existed between the profession at large and Blockley
Hospital," and provided for the election of a consulting staff. This
brought on a stirring debate. The obstacles or " objections that
had been removed," were recognized as referring to Dr. McClintock,
and some of the members of the Board intimated that Dr. Smith
required assistance in the performance of his duties." The resolu-
tion was finally " laid on the table.''

Dr. Smith appeared to be mixed up in a number of the scandals
that was put in circulation. On the 30th of August, 1858, Dr.
Oliver offered the following :

" Whereas, Rumors are being circulated that one of the offi-
cers of the Medical Department of the Alnishouse has been re-
cently engaged in the nefarious business of selling a number of
the bodies of the inmates who have died in the institution, and as this
course (if tolerated) is calculated to destroy that confidence which
the community have reposed in the members of this Board, and
annihilate the prospect indulged in by them of that anticipated
reform in this particular, the hope of which led to the success of
the present and the demolition of the power of the former Board.

" And as from this traffic (even if warrantable) no revenue ac-
crues to the institution, the proceeds being entirely appropriated to
the use of those engaged in this outrageous transaction, it there-
fore behooves the members of this Body that they should show their

z
a

■D
>

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 215

constituents that they have no participation in, or give countenance
in any way, to such illegal proceedings ; therefore,

" Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to ascer-
tain the truth or falsity of these rumors, and report to the Board
at its next meeting."

Messrs. Oliver, Kensil and Kames were appointed. They
reported that they had made a careful examination and found that
there was no foundation for such report. They said : '' That no
medical officer of the House has been engaged in any such trans-
action or in anything calculated to lead to the suspicion of such
transaction.

" Dr. Smith, the Chief Medical Officer, admitted that he had
preserved two dead bodies for the purpose of obtaining two rare
specimens of diseases, and claimed that by so doing he was only
in the pursuit of a legitimate and proper privilege, one which he had
a perfect right to exercise for the advancement of medical science.

" The evidence showed that Dr. Kelly, one of the assistant
physicians, was anxious to obtain the fractured arms of a female
who had died of consumption. Dr. Smith was equally anxious to
obtain them as valuable specimens of morbid anatomy. After Dr.
Smith's trouble in preparing the body to prevent decomposition,
some other physician, outside of the institution, procured them.
The disappointment of Dr. Kell}'- was to a great extent the origin
of this investigation, and the result of it proves absolutely nothing."

This was indeed, a wonderful report. It showed the great care
that was taken of the bodies. It was certainly too bad that Dr.
Kelly should be disappointed, especially when he was so anxious ;
but there was Dr. Smith, who had taken the trouble to preserve it,
and then to think that " some other physician outside of the insti-
tution procured them ! "

Who was this other physician, and hov/ did he procure them ?
The committee failed to state whether this " other physician " took
them out secreted in his vest pocket, or how he did take them.
Possibly the body walked out.

It was outrageous that any one should have the temerity to
insinuate that there was anything wrong with such excellent man-

216 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

agement, and it is to be hoped that Dr. Oliver's constituents were
pleased.

Councils managed to appropriate just enough money to keep
the Board's finances in a very straightened condition.

On the 27th of September, 1858, the Guardians adopted a
series of resolutions begging for sufficient money to maintain the
institution, in which they stated : " We therefore respectfully urge
upon Councils the necessity of prompt and immediate action in
supporting this department. The article of flour, which always
commands cash, is now nearly exhausted, and in a few days the
inmates will be without bread.

" Now nearly all of them are without sufficient clothing to pro-
tect them from the approaching cold weather, and there is not one
cent left to purchase shoes for the barefooted men and w^omen who
are compelled to leave their wards and work within the institution.

" The Hospital supplies are also in the same condition, and
all of the medicine for the sick have thus far been purchased upon
the responsibility of the members of the Board, without a dollar of
appropriation to meet the bills."

This was trul}^ a deplorable condition to be placed in. Politi-
cal feeling wasver}^ strong in those dsLys, and seemed to enter into
the management of the departments. It was even hinted that
some of the Guardians intended to do some '' crooked " work, but
the following preamble and resolutions, which were iinaninioiisly
adopted at the meeting of the Board, held on October 11, 1858,
proved that the rumor was untrue. Of course no one would go on
record as voting against them. The resolutions said :

" WherEAvS, We are now upon the eve of an election, the
importance of which cannot be overestimated, when we \\\W be
called upon to deposit our votes to say who shall represent us in
the various offices to be balloted for ; and,

" WherEAvS, The right of the elective franchise is dear and
religiously sacred to every American citizen, whether native or
adopted, and as the price of liberty is said to be eternal vigilance,
and as the inviolability of the ballot-box lays at the foundation of
the perpetuity of our Republican institutions, we must view with

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 217

the utmost abhorrence, and punish with the utmost severity, those
who would in any way seek to perpetrate a fraud upon the sacred
right of freemen in this matter ; and,

" Whereas, It is rumored that the majority members of
this Board have been seeking to perpetrate a gross outrage, not
alone upon the citizens of the 24th Ward in particular, but also
upon the rights of every American citizen, by forcing upon them,
as qualified voters, the paupers who reside in the Blockley Alms-
house, that are supported by the taxpayers of the city of Phila-
delphia, who have therefore no moral right to be turned out on the
da}^ of election for the purpose of neutralizing the legal votes of
an equal number of American citizens. Therefore,

""Resolved^ By the Board of Guardians of the Poor of the City
of Philadelphia, that we disown having any part or lot in this
matter whatever, either individually or collectively.

" Resolved^ That any member of this Board or of&cer connected
with the House or Board, who shall be proven guilty of aiding or
abetting, in any manner whatsoever, either preparing for or assist-
ing to deposit, on the day of election, the vote of any pauper, shall
be considered guilty of misdemeanor in office, and shall be dis-
missed forthwith."

This must have relieved the public mind and set at rest all
wild rumors.

The appeals to Councils for more mone}- did not appear to
have the desired effect, and the members of the Board began to get
impatient and to assume a more belligerent attitude. On the 25th
of October, 1858, Mr. Karnes offered the following:

" Whereas, This Board has appealed for the past three mouths
to the City Councils for an appropriation sufficient to meet the
deficiency of last 3^ear's expenditures, for which this Board is not
at all accountable, w^hich appeal has so far been disregarded ;
and,

" Whereas, The appropriations for almost all articles neces-
sary for the support of the inmates is exhausted, and the only
method left to carr}^ on the affairs of the institution is for the mem-
bers of this Board to make themselves individually responsible for

218 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

such purchases as are required ; that we have done already to a
a large extent ; and,

" Whereas, Councils have neglected to appropriate that
portion of the public funds raised by taxation off our mutual con-
stituents, thus leaving the Board without money to purchase neces-
sary supplies for the support of the inmates of this institution,
and without funds for the purchase of raw materials for the em-
ployment of the various mechanics now under the Almshouse roof,
thus involving the city in a loss since the first of July last, already
exceeding $10,000, and now daily increasing, partly in consequence
of the additional prices charged for all articles bought on credit,
without any prospect of an appropriation to pay for the same.
And this Board, being unwilling to be instruments in the hands of
Councils for such mismanagement and waste and loss of the public
funds and credit, over which we have no contol ; therefore,

''''Resolved^ That no article be purchased for the use of this
institution after the first day of November next, unless an appro-
priation be first made by Councils sufficient to meet existing de-
mands, and that a committee of five members of this Board, to
confer with Councils to set forth the necessity of prompt action on
their part and urge an immediate appropriation of a part of the
public money raised expressly for the support of this institution,
be appointed.

"And that, in case Councils shall continue, as they have been
for the past three months, indifferent to the public interests, and
should fail to act as the emergency demands, that then the said
committee be requested to solicit donations from public-spirited
citizens for the support of the lunatics and children's asylum, and
that the adult paupers be forthwith discharged and recommended
to the mercy of the City Councils."

The preambles and resolutions were adopted.

The action of the Board did not have the desired effect, and
Councils continued as they had been " for the past three months."
There is nothing to show that donations were asked for or that the
adult paupers were discharged and recommended to the mercy of
City Councils.

History of Philadelpliia Almshouses and Hospitals. 219

Mr. Hoopes gave vent to his indignation by tlie introduction
of the following preambles and resolutions at the meeting held
on the 8th of November, 1858 :

" Whereas, This Board, influenced by a desire to guard the
interests of the city and to economize the means placed at their
disposal for the maintenance of the poor of Philadelphia, applied to
Councils for an appropriation to enable them to make available and
profitable the surplus labor within the walls of the Almshouse; and,

'' Whereas, The appropriation, amounting to but $2,400,
to be used in purchasing material for the construction of a build-
ing and the purchase of tools for the employment of this labor,
has been stricken from the ordinance by the arbitrary and factious
opposition of a few members of Councils, prominent among whom
is the member of Select Council from the Thirteenth Ward, it
behooves the members of this Board to make a plain statement of
the motives that governed them in their official relations ; the ne-
cessities that required such action ; the impediments which have
retarded an economical and proper administration of their trust,
and the ignorance and recklessness which has marked the opposi-
tion arrayed against this Board and the true interests of the city
by the individuals w4io have controlled it.

'' No Board of Guardians have ever been elected who entered
upon their duties with a firmer determination to administer hon-
estly and faithfully their trust than the present one.

" With this determination they had scarcely entered and taken
their seats than they discovered that the 3^ear's appropriations for
most of the important items of necessity were exhausted ; that
■debts to the amount of more than $8,000 had been contracted ; that
the institution had been stripped of supplies in all its departments
and left in so deplorable a condition as to require the means at that
moment to maintain its vitality, and that the labor unappropriated
around the institution was an evil that demanded an immediate
remedy.

"These were the motives and these the necessities which influ-
enced this Board in the application to Councils for the money abso-
lutely indispensable for the welfare of the institution.

220 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

"And appealing, as they believed, to honest, intelligent and
honorable men, bound by every pledge of duty to the interests of
the cit}^, they anticipated neither difficulty nor delay in the accom-
plishment of their object, nor did they suppose that the Council
chamber would be made the theatre for abuse or the arena for a
displa}^ of ignorance and the promulgation of falsehood.

" The course pursued, by this small faction in Councils is
manifestly the offspring of malevolence or is the result of still less
worthy motives.

" The great interests of the cit}^ are lost sight of and bartered
away for the gratification of personal feelings, and Councils are
entertained with the antics, vulgarities and hypocrisy of a political
harlequin.

" By the published proceedings of the Select Chamber, it will
be seen that one member at least asserted that the members of this
Board were dishonest ; that their official conduct was tainted with
fraud, and that his opposition was not to the department, but to the
Guardians of the Poor.

"This member was the Select Cotmcilman from the 13th
Ward, a man sent to legislate for the interests of the city, and not
to take advantage of his official position for the gratification of his
personal malice.

" This man knowing, or at least having been informed, of the
whole character of the legislation necessary for the welfare of the
department, knowing that the ordinance for the support of the
House for six months, from July ist, was one thing, and the ordi-
nance to pay the debts of the old Board was another, professed that
the whole thing was a riddle, and endeavored, from the beginning,
to stigmatize the Board and induce the people to believe that its
members are profligate squanderers of the public moneys,

" These slanders are on a par with the ignorance thus exposed.
The Board asked for $2,000 to put up a building which by contract
would cost $10,000, and yet these gentlemen arrest this important
work and destroy the whole object to be attained by introducing a
proviso that the work shall be done by contract, thereb}^ preventing
the employment of these ver}^ men whose labor w^e desire to make

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 221

profitable. It is therefore with a desire to test the relative powers
of the Councils and the Board of Guardians of the Poor, and the
right of Councils to retard and injure the interests of this depart-
ment that the following resolutions are offered :

" Resohed, That a committee of three be instructed to cause
the question of the relative powers of the Cit}- Councils and the
Board of Guardians of the Poor to be thoroughly investigated and
adjudicated by the Courts of Justice.

*' Resolved^ That this Board do tender the services of 200 able-
bodied men to the Select and Common Council to be employed as
their wisdom may direct."

During the discussion which ensued on the motion to adopt
the resolutions, Mr. Brown said that he disapproved of the erection
of the building, and asserted that he had used his influence in
Councils to defeat the appropriation therefor, and from other
remarks made the following protest from the Chief Resident Ph}'-
sician was presented and read :

" I protest against Mr. Brown, or any other man, connecting
my name with any act for which I am not responsible, and this
man Brown shall not falsel}^ through motives of malevolence,
involve me in any act with which I have no connection." — R. K.
Smith.

The vote on the passage of the preambles and resolutions was
21 in favor to i in opposition, '' this man Brown" being the onl}-
one opposed to their adoption.

On the morning of December 22, 1858, a fire occurred in the
clothes room, which was located in the second story of the bake
house ; it was the cause of considerable fright, and for a time looked
quite serious, but was fortunately extinguished without any loss
of life.

The Board passed a vote of thanks to Mr. Henzey, the Stew-
ard, for " his indefatigable exertions and for the untiring zeal with
which he labored to extinguish the conflagration which at one time
threatened the Almshouse with entire destruction."

The fire caused great inconvenience, as there was no surplus
of clothing at the best of times. The Steward notified the Board

222 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

on January 3, 1859, " that in consequence of the fire they did not
have sufficient clothing to furnish inmates on their discharge from
the House. There are a great many who would have been dis-
charged but for the want of clothing."

The religious character of at least a few of the members was
shown by the following preamble, which preceded a resolution to
authorize the purchase of hay :

Whereas, Owing to a dispensation of Providence the grounds
kept for haying purposes were overflowed during the past harvest,
and consequently almost our entire crop of hay was destroyed,
therefore," etc.

Mr. Hoopes offered the following : " Whereas, The taxpayers
of the city are paying to support at least 1000 able-bodied men and
women, and the Guardians of the Poor have no means of employing
them, therefore,

" Resolved^ That a committee be appointed to use their influence
with members of the Legislature to procure the passage of a bill to
authorize the sale of a portion of the Blockley Almshouse property
sufficient to raise means to build a suitable House of Correction."

CHAPTER XX.

THEFT OF 690 BARRELS OF FLOUR CHARGED— CHARGES OF CORRUP-
TION IN THE AIR.

DR. SMITH is again brouglit to public notice. His name
had been associated with that of one of the female nurses,
and caused considerable gossip. The matter was dis-
cussed informally by the members of the Board, and a
resolution was offered to expel or suspend him until an investiga-
tion could be made. This called forth the following characteristic
letter from the Doctor :

" Gentlemen — At 3^our meeting on Wednesday evening a reso-
lution was offered to suspend me from my duties for the present,
until certain charges against me were settled.

" If charges exist I should like to know what they are, for I
am ready for any investigation that may be started. I am respon-
sible to the Board of Guardians for a faithful performance of my
official duties, among them is the respectability, so far as it rests
upon me, of the departments under my care.

"If I have been guilty of any dereliction in any of those
particulars I am answerable to you, and I claim it as a man and a
public officer that the charges be plainly, specifically and publicly
made under a responsible name, that I ma}- have an opportunity^ to
vindicate myself before the public, where I have been so deeply
injured.

" As a citizen I can stand erect before the world, conscious of
my own integrity, and am ready to answer to any immoral act that
either by stealth or stratagem my enemies have endeavored to fix
upon me.

" Apart from my office there is a higher tribunal than the
Guardians of the Poor to decide upon my moral conduct, and a
more impartial one than the Sunday papers, but I shrink from
nothing into which you may choose to look, and as I have been
publicly traduced and calumniated I invite 3'ou to fully and freely

223

224 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

investigate anything and everything with which my name has
been so unfairly connected.

" I ask then that some one who complains shall make his charge
openly and fairly, and that you appoint a committee to investigate.

" Respectfully yours,

" Robert K. Smith.''

The committee appointed made a report on March 28, 1859, in
which it was stated : " We have had repeated meetings and have
notified all parties in any way connected with the scandalous
rumors t© be present and make charges or produce evidence, and
as no charges have been made of any sort to implicate the Doctor
in any improper transaction, and as all the evidence adduced was
entirely calculated to liberate him from anything wrong, your
committee regard the whole of these rumors as the offspring of
malice."

The troubles of the Board were augmented when Mr. Arm-
strong, one of the members, made a statement regarding flour
transactions, and said that 690 barrels of it had been stolen by
members of the Board. As might be supposed this bold charge
caused consternation as well as indignation, and a committee, con-
sisting of Messrs. Armstrong, Allison, Gamble, Hoopes and Smith,
was appointed to investigate and report.

Mr. Armstrong was alone. The other members of the com-
mittee made report on February 2d, 1859, and, after reciting the
mode of procedure and the evidence, showing statement of the
books, etc., they concluded by saying : " There is therefore indubit-
able evidence that neither fraud nor dishonesty has marked the
conduct of any man connected with the institution in these flour
transactions, and the charges are gratuitous, false, slanderous, and
only manufactured for political effect.

" Your committee therefore offers the following resolutions and
ask for their adoption :

" Resolved^ That James Armstrong be and is hereby expelled
from the Board of Guardians of the Poor, and from this day his
seat be declared vacant.

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 2:2.5

^^ Resoh'fd^ That the Secretary officiall}' iiifonns Councils that
a vacancy exists in the Third Ward and ask them to elect a mem-
ber to fill it.

'' Resolved^ That James D. Brown deserves tlie censure of his
colleagues in sustaining Mr. Armstrong in his course, and that he
be required to make to the Board a public apology for the wrong he
has perpetrated.

" Resolved^ That the members of this Board regard themselves
disgraced by their official connection with Mr. Armstrong and every
other public defamer and calumniator."

When Mr. Preall moved the adoption of the resolutions, Mr.
Armstrong took the floor, and after he had spoken more than an
hour the previous question was called and the motion to adopt the
resolutions was carried unanimously, while Mr. x^rmstrong was
continuing his remarks.

Mr. Armstrong paid no attention to the expulsion, but attended
the next meeting as though nothing had happened. .

The vote on the adoption of the resolutions was reconsidered
and Mr. Armstrong presented a minority report, in which he stated :
" Your committee agree in all the statements of which you will
find a printed copy hereto annexed, with the exception of two bills,
one for 150 and the other for 200 barrels.

"The objection is that they were not passed until the meeting
of December 27th.

" I admit they were not passed until that meeting, but I do
contend that the\^ were charged respectively on the 15th and 20th
of December, 185S.

M}^ charge ends on the 25th, but I contend that the flour was
delivered on and previous to the 25th. The baker makes his re-
turns on Saturday evening. This Saturday referred to was the
25th. The 26th was Sunda}-, and, of course, no flour was delivered
on that da3\ The bills passed the Board on the following da}-.

" Now, when was the flour delivered ? Is it pretended that
there was no flour delivered from the 15th to the 26th?"

" The report of the majority of the committee is equivalent to
this. Now let us admit this for the time, and sa}' that it was delivered
15

226 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

on Monday, before the meeting of the Board. Let us refer to the
baker's statement, received from all sources, including all the fol-
lowing week, 140 barrels, and baked, say 117, which is the same as
the preceding week. How does the statement stand ?

Whole amount received and bills passed .... 2,854

Amount on hand July 3d 70

Total barrels 2,924

Whole amount baked to January ist, 1859 2,584

To be accounted for 340

^' Does this, after giving all that you ask, make the matter
straight? Now I insist that there was not a barrel of flour de-
livered at the House from the 25th to the 27th of December when
the bills were passed."

Councils appointed a committee to investigate the flour trans-
actions and the Board dropped the matter, so far as Mr. Arm-
strong's charges were concerned.

At the same meeting Mr. Kames offered the following :

" WherEAvS, Upon an examination of the books of this depart-
ment, it appears that in the six months elapsing from the ist of
January to the 5th of July, 1858, inclusive, there is a deficiency of
510 barrels of flour, that has been paid for more than was delivered,
by the Board in power previous to this ; therefore,

" Resolved^ That a committee be appointed to investigate the
matter and report to this Board."

Messrs. Kames, Gamble and Smith were appointed, but no
report from that committee appears on the records.

Mr. Armstrong called, attention to the manner in which meats
were furnished and distributed, and a committee was appointed to
investigate. A long report was made, in which it was stated
" That Councils, with a false view of economy, refused to appropriate
sufficient to paj^ salaries to competent clerks to keep the accounts.
The officers of the institution are appointed in a great
measure as partisans and removed solely on party grounds. Certain
of the positions for but a single year, they cannot be expected to

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

lizi

feel that interest in the institution which they would if their situa-
tions were permanent, as in New York, during good behavior." The
report concluded with the recommendation of a system which, the
committee said, " would render any scheme of fraud impossible."

Mr. Armstrong, not wishing to associate with the Board any
longer, and feeling that he had started enough worriment to last
for some time, tendered his resignation, which was accepted ; no
doubt it was received with joy.

More troubles awaited ; charges of corruption came from all
quarters; the Controller referred to Councils bills for muslin pur-
chased by Messrs. Freno and Preall, members of the Board, and
they asked for an investigation.

The Committee appointed reported that the muslin could have
been bought for less than the amount charged in the bills to which
the Controller objected, but acquitted Messrs. Freno and Preall of
an}' intention to make anything out of the transactions.

The Committee of Councils appointed to investigate the flour
transactions submitted a long report; there was no whitewashing
indulged in, as the following extracts from it show :

"The Committee met at the Almshouse on February 22, 1859
and proceeded to examine the books of the institution. We exam-
ined the book kept by the Almshouse clerk to the Board of Guard-
ians, in which a record is made of all bills passed b}^ the Board,
the date of each bill tbat is bought, the articles bought, the prices
paid, the names of the person or persons selling to the Almshouse,
the names of the Guardians making the purchases, the dates the
Board passed the bills and the numbers of the warrants drawn for
the payment of the bills.

" We examined the book kept by the storekeeper of the Alms-
house, in which a record is made of the purchases for Alms-
house.

" We also examined the book kept by the Steward of the
Almshouse, in which a record is made once a week of the flour
received, the amount consumed and the amount on hand. This
record is kept by the Steward from reports made to him b\- the
baker.

228 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

"These three books were examined from Januar}^ ist to July
3, 1858, which embraces the first part of this report. Secondly,
they were examined from July 3, 1858, to February 17, 1859, rela-
tive to the flour transactions of the Board of Guardians from
Janual-y i, 1858, to February 17, 1859.

" The Committee find upon the examination from January ist
to July 3d, 1858, that the Board passed bills for flour to the amount
of 2,615 barrels that was bought between Januar}^ ist and June 28th,
1858. The bill of June 28th was the last purchase made by the
old Board and was passed by that Board on July 5, 1858. This is
as the clerk's book shows,

" The storekeeper's book shows that he has given a credit for
2,485 barrels of flour as received into the institution between Janu-
ar}' ist and July 3d, 1858.

" The Steward's book showed that he received between January
ist and July 3d, 1858, inclusive, 2,597 barrels of flour. The last
receipt of flour by him was July 3d. These three statements
show the following results : That the Board passed bills for ijo
vwre barrels of flour than the storekeeper has any record of on his
books. The bills which the storekeeper has no record of and the
Board have passed are as follows, viz : for 30 barrels purchased of
Peter Maloy, April i, 1858, purchased by Hugh Gamble; R. H.
Baker's bill for 50 barrels, bought June 28th, by Mr. Heishley, and
T. E. Lukens' bill for 50 barrels, bought June 28th, by Mr. Heish-
ley. These bills have been paid.

" And the books show that the Board passed bills for 18 more
barrels of flour than the Steward's book shows he received as the
figures stand iipoii his book.

" If you take the amount as was originally entered in writing
and figures before any erasures were made, it would show then
that the Steward had not received as much flour by 164 barrels as
the Board passed bills for.

" The Steward's book shows that five alterations were made
from January 1st to July 3d, 1858. The alterations are: January
23d, 1858, the entry in writing and in figures is for 157 barrels, the
figures have been altered to 125 barrels.

History of Pliiladelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. I'lil'

" May 17th, entered in writing and in figures for 90 barrels ;
figures altered to 70 barrels.

" May 27tli, entered in writing and in figures for 150 barrels,
the words ' one hundred and ' have been erased, and the word
sixty has been written over the word fift}-, and the figures 150
have been altered to 60.

" May 29tli, entered in writing and in figures for 139 barrels;
altered to 135.

June 26th, the amount entered in writing is entirel}^ erased.

RECAPITULATION OF ALTERATIONS.

" As originally entered. As altered to.

June 23d, 157 barrels June 23d, 125 barrels.

May 17th, 90 " May, 1 7th, 70 "

Ma}^ 22d, 150 " May 26tb, 60 "

May 29th, 139 " May 29tli, 135 "

June 26th erased.

Total . . 536 barrels ' 390 barrels.

making a difference between the alterations and the original entries
of 146 barrels. Now if the original entries were correct, then there
was a loss to the institution of 146 barrels.

" The 'amount of flour entered on the Steward's book as baked
March 6th, in writing and figures was 125 barrels; the figures
were altered to 105. Now if this original entr\' was correct there
was a saving of 20 barrels, which should be deducted from the 146
barrels, which leave, according to original entries, 126 barrels to
be accounted for.

" The committee examined the books of the clerk to the Board,
the Storekeeper and the Steward from July 3d. 1858, to February
17th, 1859, which have been kept under the present Board of
Guardians.

" The clerk's book shows that bills have been passed b}- the
Board for 3,204 barrels of flour.

"The Storekeeper' s book shows that he has received 2,854
barrels.

" The Steward's book shows that he has received 3,159 barrels,
I or the baker has so reported to him.

230 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

" These books therefore show that the Board passed bills for
350 barrels more than the Storekeeper has any record of on his
books; they also show that bills have been passed for 45 barrels
more than were reported to the Steward to February 12th, 1859, at
which time the baker made his last report to him.

"Now the great difficulty of the committee is to account for
the 160 barrels that were reported to the Steward by the baker on
February 5th and 200 barrels on February 12th. As the last pur-
chase was made on February ist, 1859, of 100 barrels, bought of
J. K. Tyson, and the bill passed the Board on February 14th, and
the entry of 100 of the 160 barrels of February 5th is easily
accounted for by the purchase of February ist of J. K. Tyson,
which could not have been reported to the Steward before the
5th; the 200 barrels reported to the Steward as received, which
was entered upon his book of February 12th, and 60 barrels of the
entry of the 5th, making 260 barrels excess, after the last purchase
of February ist.

" Your committee have not been enabled from all the testimony
before them to ascertain where it came from ; whether it was in the
institution previous to February ist, and withheld from the Stew-
ard, or whether it had been supplied after February ist to makeup
deficiencies by some parties unknown. to your committee. If such
was the fact, then a gross fraud was attempted upon the city, and
your committee think that every person who takes the trouble to
read the records and testimony taken in this investigation must
come to the same conclusion, and that the flour was in the institu-
tion before February ist, or it has been sent in since to make up
deficiencies. The question then naturally arises, if supplied since
February ist, how far the city is liable for its payment.

" The storekeeper, George Jeffries, was examined under oath,
and said most emphatically, ' No flour was delivered between the
ist and 1 2th of February, except the 100 barrels bought of J. K.
Tyson on the ist.

" Now, if the testimony of the books kept by the Clerk of the
Almshouse to the Board of Guardians, the testimony of the store-
keeper, sixteen members of the Board of Guardians, including the

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. -31

House Committee for the month of February, comprising both
sides of politics, twelve different parties who have been in the habit
of selling flour to the Almshouse, is to be believed, no flour was
purchased between the ist and 12th of Februar}^, and this 260
barrels, which is entered on the Steward's book as received on the
5th and 12th of February must be included in the deficiency bills.

" Whether this flour was delivered before or after the bills
were passed, one important fact is established, that no person can
collect a bill for the flour entered upon the Steward's book of Feb-
ruary 5th and 1 2th, except the 100 barrels bought of J. K. Tyson
on Februar}^ ist.

'' If frauds have been attempted to be committed, then this
investigation has frustrated the designs of those making the
attempt."

The Committee recommended the reorganization of the Poor
Department, and an entirely different system of making purchases
for the Almshouse.

The testimony taken by the Committee was submitted to
Councils, and some of it was very interesting, showing, as it did,
the very loose, if not criminal manner in which the business of the
Board was conducted. Upon the examination of some of the mem-
bers of the Board of Guardians, some very queer answers were
elicited. Mr. Kames especially became noted for some of his
answers. In repl}^ to one question he said, '' I do not know of any
member of the Board of Guardians receiving commissions for the
purchase of flour. Various members have been charged with
fraud. We have all been charged with fraud, and with being
thieves."

W^hen he was asked, " Have you, either directly or indirectly,
been connected with the flour transactions, in which you have
received a bonus or an interest ? " he declined to answer, because,
he said, *' I consider the queztion impertinent."

He said that the entry of a bill for 200 barrels of flour, upon
the Storekeeper's book, purporting to have been purchased Decern
ber 28th, of A. Harvey, was investigated by a committee appointed
for that purpose. Among the parties before the committee was

232 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

Mr. Fisher, a member of the Board, who stated that he had ordered
the bill entered on the book, for the purpose of having the matter
in shape for passing when the flour was delivered His reasons for
so doing were that the parties were friends of his, and as he was
about leaving the city for Harrisburg, the parties of whom he had
purchased were fearful that, if neglected, it might be left over.
The reason given for not delivering the flour at the time of the
alleged purchase was " there was not room for it."

It is somewhat strange to see that flour was purchased that
could not be delivered because " there was not room for it," when
we remember that, but a few months previous to this investigation,
this same Mr. Kames introduced a series of resolutions at a meet-
ing of the Board of Guardians, in which he denounced the mem-
bers of Councils for " leaving the Board without money to pur-
chase necessary supplies for the support of the inmates," and
threatening to solicit donations from public-spirited citizens for the
support of the lunatic and children's asylum, and to discharge the
adult paupers," and recommend them to the mercy of Councils.

Now it seems that conditions have changed. The Board
appears to have more money than can be properly expended, and
when any of the members are about to leave the city, they order a
couple of hundred of barrels of flour, so that no time need be
lost, and the flour merchant can wait until enough of the surplus
stock is used to make room for his delivery. It is not to be won-
dered at that no two of the books agreed, or that bills were passed
for more than had been received. To term such methods as being
" loose " is more than moderate ; criiiiiual would be nearer to the
proper name.

CHAPTER XXI.

REORGANIZATION— LIBERAL OFEER OF HOMCEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS,

THE community at large had lost all confidence in the Board,
and when the Legislature, in compliance with the general
request, passed an act changing the mode of selecting
Guardians of the Poor, it met with a hearty welcome b}'-
the public.

Under the new law, the Supreme Court appointed George
Williams, Rowland E. Evans and Joseph M. Linnard ; the District
Court, Conrad S. Escher, William P. Cresson and Frederick A.
Server ; the Court of Common Pleas, John M. Maris, Elhanan W.
Keyser and John Robbins ; the City Councils, James N. IMarks^
Mahlon H. Dickinson and John D. Eentz.

The character and reputation of these gentlemen were closely
looked into. Three of them, Alessrs. Williams, Server and Marks?
had been on the Board, and knew the details of the institution and
its management.

The others were mostly men of means, who could afford to
give the time to attend to the duties. At this period there was
strong political feeling and antagonism between the People's Party,
a large majority of whom became Republicans, and the Democrats,
or Loco Foco's, as the3' were then termed.

The following editorials, quoted from the papers of that time,
will show something of the feeling existing. One said : " The
gentlemen who have received these appointments are, so far as we
know them, reputable and upright business men ; but we regret to
notice that the Supreme Court has set the example in their selec-
tions, by taking from the many intelligent and retired gentlemen
of this city, only those who are active Loco Foco politicians. This
act does not suggest the conclusion that the future Board is to
ignore politics in their organization. Judges Ludlow and Shars-
wood, profiting by this example, have made similar appointments ;
whilst, on the other hand, the Judges of the lower Court, who are
said to S3^mpathize with the People's Party, have selected gentle-

233

234 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

men who have in a great measnre been unknown in the political
arena, and such men as would doubtless administer their trusts
regardless of any political influences.

" That the existence of Judge Read, the only Judge whose life
has been passed among us, and whose interests have always been
identified with the City of Philadelphia, should have been entirely
disregarded as an appointing power in the Supreme Court, was a
suflicient reason why those other Judges of the same politics
should have provided against the possibility of a Loco Foco organ-
ization of the Department.

" The Councils in their election have not been unmindful of
the interests of the cit}'. They have taken for the three years'
term Mr. James N. Marks, who passed a great portion of his life
in the service of the institution over the river. As a Guardian
upon a former occasion, he was one of the most ef&cient and faith-
ful the city ever possessed. His independence and determination
during that service cannot be denied, and no man is able to truth-
fully say that he has feasted at the expense of the city, or had
taken the value of a penny that did not belong to him. He neither
broke public bread, smoked a cigar, nor took from the garden even
a bunch of flowers. And yet he is one of the first of the new ap-
pointments to be assailed by the Loco Foco papers.

" The object of the assault is apparent to every man. The
design is unquestionably to detract from Mr. M. any influence he
might possess as an upright, intelligent and honest man, one
thoroughly acquainted with the wants of the institution, and his
official duties.

" Messrs. Dickinson and Lentz are both good appointments.
We believe them to be discreet and honorable gentlemen, and that
they would not perpetrate a wrong, either public or private, in their
oflicial capacity. The same may be said of every one of the gen-
tlemen who belong to the People's Party, appointed by the Courts.
We would not be willing to believe that the appointments of the
Loco Foco Judges differ from them in this respect. We only
regret that they should be such decided politicians, and fear that
their influence may be covertly exerted to serve party purposes.

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 235

" It is certainly proper that this new Board should be governed
by their own experience in making changes in the department ;
but we earnestly counsel them to avoid hasty action.

*' Public clamor and newspaper scandal should never deter
fearless and honest men from doing their duty, nor should it force
them to do an injustice to the institution or its officers.

" "We therefore caution this Board against all improper influ-
ences. Let them enter upon their duties determined to eradicate
every evil they may discover to exist ; but let them see and know
by their own observation that changes are proper and ought to be
made.

" It is not very likely that a large majority of the Board can
understand the true character of the important trust they have
assumed, in the beginning of their career, and as the public ex-
pects much from these gentlemen, it will be well for them to exer-
cise much caution in the outset.

" These we know are the views of the mass of the people, and
we are entirel}^ disposed to endorse them. An injustice done in
the beginning will start an opposition at once which it will be diffi-
cult to arrest."

Another paper, after giving the names of the members elected
b}^ Councils, said :

'' Mr. Marks, the first on the list, is one of the particular
friends of Dr. R. K. Smith, the present Almshouse ph3^sician. He
was formerly a member of the Board, and during the term of his
office, in 1855, had as good an opportunity to keep fast horses at
the public crib as almost any one else. We cannot regard his ap-
pointment as a promising one in any light. Mr. Dickinson is a
reputable citizen of the Sixteenth Ward, and last year represented
his ward in Common Council. Air. Lentz is a gentleman of good
standing and strict business habits. Both of these, we believe, will
serve the public faithfully.

" The tickets circulated among the Councilmen were, with the
exception of the names of Alessrs. Dickinson and Marks, made up
of those of the present Board of Guardians. Among the candidates
were : E. E. Smith, (P. P.) ; J. L. Hamelin, (distributor of coal

236 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

contracts) ; J. J. Allison, (vindicator of Buzzardism), and A. H.
Dunlay (the silent and sly). The names were conveniently ar-
ranged, so that, whoever was defeated, Mr. Marks, who was on
all tickets, would slide in. He appears to have been the special
favorite of the present Board, and, unless we are mistaken, will be
regarded by them as their representative.

" Those chosen for the Board of Health are, with the exception
of Dr. Jewell, hardly as well fitted for the position as the gentle-
men named by the Courts. But they are, perhaps, as good as could
be expected from a partisan bod}^

" The new Boards are now filled. Mr. Williams, we under-
stand, intends to hold on to his appointment to the Poor Board,
notwithstanding the opposition manifested everywhere to it.

" Robert Ewing has signified his intention of resigning. He
did not seek the position, and his appointment was a tribute to his
personal worth. He has every qualification to fill the office honor-
ably, and we trust he may reconsider his intentions.

" Elhanan W. Keyser, it is stated, will also resign his position,,
in consequence of ill health. This intelligence will be received
among all good citizens with sincere regret.

" The Guardians of the Poor have a Herculean task before
them. They should at once, upon organizing, institute a searching
investigation into all the affairs of their predecessors. They owe
it to themselves, no less than to the public, to ascertain the whole
amount of purchases made, how much of these have been deliv-
ered at the Almshouse, what quantity of fuel, clothing and sup-
plies of every kind remain on hand, what proportion of the annual
appropriation has been spent, what sum is to the credit of the de-
partment, and so on.

" This inquiry and a general publication of the result, are
essential and should be immediately made.

'' They should proceed to clear the institution of the fnngi
therein. In the first place they should elect a capable, discreet and
gentlemanly Resident Physician in the place of Dr. R. K. Smith.
To do otherwise would awaken general indignation. The affairs
and the conduct of the officials deserve and should receive a rigid

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 237

inspection, and especially the Steward's and the Storekeeper's de-
partments. In a word the community expects the new Board to
start fairly and squarely, with a candid exposition of Almshouse
affairs and a thorough clearance of every officer who has in any
way departed from an honest discharge of duty. We shall see
what they will do."

The last meeting of the old Board was held on the 4th of
July, 1S59, at the Almshouse, for the purpose of closing up the busi-
ness of the year, previous to final adjournment.

The annual report of the Visitors contained the following in-
formation : " Sent to the Almshouse during the year, 4,495 ; doc-
tors'orders, 2,602; funerals, 58; coffins, 13S; tons of coal dis-
tributed, 4,510 ; cords of wood, distributed, 1,062/^ ; cash paid for re-
lief, $275.81 ; incidentals, $341.22 ; groceries distributed, $14,188.87.
The Out-door Agent collected $2,852.00 for immigrant tax.
A resolution was adopted appropriating $100 to the Out-door Agent
for services rendered in collecting this tax.

Dr. Oliver offered a resolution " returning thanks to the offi-
cers of the House for the efficient manner in which they have con-
ducted the affairs of the institution," which was adopted unani-
mously.

Mr. Hamelin offered a resolution of thanks to the President
of the Board, for the satisfactory manner in which he had dis-
charged his duties, which was also unanimousl}^ adopted.

The President returned his thanks to the members and said
that he and his colleagues separated with the kindliest feelings.
He suggested that the retiring Board receive the new Board in a
suitable manner, and not treat them as he and his colleagues had
been treated — when they entered the House by one door, the old
Board went out by another, and left them to get along in the best
way they could.

A resolution was adopted requesting the Steward to introduce
the new Board in the meeting room ; after which the old Board
adjourned sine die.

At 10 o'clock the members of the Board reassembled, when
the members of the new Board were introduced by ]\Ir. Henzey,

238 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

the Steward, and were welcomed b}^ Mr. Kensil, the retiring Presi-
dent, who stated the willingness of himself and his colleagues of the
old Board to render any information to the new Board that might
be desired.

The old Board then vacated the seats, and the members of
the new Board were sworn by Alderman Beitler to support the
Constitution of the State and of the United States, and to perform
the duties of the office of Guardians of the Poor with fidelity, after
which the Board was organized by the election of Mr. E. W. Keyser
as President.

Mr. Keyser, upon taking the chair, made the following brief
speech :

" For the honor you have thus conferred upon me I return
my sincere thanks. I pledge myself to perform the duties
of the office with fidelity and impartiality. What can I say
more ? "

Mr. F. A. Server was elected Treasurer, Mr. Henzey, Steward,
and nearly all of the subordinates of the institution were retained,
so it will be seen that the Board did not act upon the advice to
make a clean sweep.

This is an account of the meeting as it appears on the minute
book. The papers of that time went more into details and pub-
lished the proceedings in their own style. One of the newspapers
contained the following under a heading styled " The dying words
of the doomed."

" The Board of Guardians of the Poor gave up the ghost on
the morning of July 4th, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-
nine. An event so important to tax payers, who have been fleeced
so completely by the majority of the twenty-four, deserves a special
record, and we accordingly transfer to the columns ' the dying
words of the doomed.'

" After the consideration of a few reports and a resolution
voting one hundred dollars extra pay to somebody in office and
likely to go out,

" Dr. Oliver offered a resolution of thanks to the officers of
the institution, and of the Board, and especially the Steward and

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 239

the farmer, for their uniform capability, diligence and integrit}^ in
the performance of their duties.

" The President remarked that with one exception, and this
one .he would not name under the circumstances, all of the officers
of the Board had done their duty in a manner that should com-
mand the respect of ever3^body.

*' Mr. Brown said that to the ability of ]Mr. Henzey, Steward,
and Mr. Myers, farmer, he owed the duty of bearing the strongest
testimony. The abilit}^ and efficiency of both were above praise.

" Mr. Budd also said that he fully endorsed the comments of
the gentlemen who had preceded him. With one exception every
officer of the Board had done his dut3\ That one person he should
not name, but he had entailed upon this Board and upon the Alms-
house a stigma which could not be wiped out. With this exception
he would heartily endorse the resolution, and hoped it would pass
unanimously.

" Mr. Kames ' wouldn' make (77iy exception whatever. He
knew the person referred to, but thought he was more sinned
against than sinning. The bills of mortality during the past
year,' added he, ' show that as a physician this man has done his
duty as well as any man that ever occupied the position. If he
does an3'thing outside of that its his own business.' The Pre-
sident : ' No name has been mentioned.' Mr. Kames : ' No, but
everybody knows who is meant. I go in for covering up all
animosities at a time like this. There is no use killing a man after
he's dead.'

'' Mr. Freno said that in leaving the Board he washed to thank
his associates for all their uniform courtesies to himself and the
officers of the Board and of the institution for their unvar^'ing
gentlemanly deportment to everj^body. He would heartily support
the resolution. The resolution was unanimously agreed to,

" Mr. Hamelin offered a resolution of thanks to R. W. Kensil,
the President of the Board. It was adopted unaniniousl\' , and the
President responded gracefully and feelingly in reply.

" Mr. Kames seemed to have died harder than the rest. He
seems to have almost wept over his fate, and ' at a time like this '

240 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

was ready ' to cover up all animosities.' With keen and cutting
memories still clinging to his susceptible heart, he couldn't help
thinking, and that aloud, that ' there was no use killing a man
after he's dead.' Alas, and has the paragon to whom Mr. Karnes
referred no other praise than this ! How are the mighty fallen,
when such a saint as Dr. Robert K. Smith, of Fagan fame, has
none so poor as to do him reverence, who must be passed by because
' there was no use killing a man after he's dead.' Alack ! one
short month ago it was not thus. One month hence it will not be
as it now is. Amen."

One of the first of the important subjects to claim the attention
of the new Board was the reorganization of the medical department.
From the manner in which it had been managed and the very
decided opposition to the continuance of Dr. Smith as Chief Resi-
dent Physician, it was thought that the best solution of that ques-
tion would be the abolition of the office and a return to the old
system.

A resolution to that effect was offered and referred to a com-
mittee. Two reports v/ere made to the Board on Ju!y i8th, 1859,
the majority report favored it, while that of the minority opposed
the proposition. In the latter report it was stated :

" The Guardians of the Poor, under its present organization,
exists by virtue of a recent law, extorted from the Legislature by
the force of public opinion founded on the belief that much corrup-
tion and extravagant expenditures existed in the Department,
oppressive to the taxpayers and injurious to the prosperity of the
city. The great object of the Board, therefore, is to proceed at
once to the performance of the duties for which it was created,
those of investigating and removing the abuses alleged to exist in
the management of affairs, and not to waste the time of the mem-
bers here and in committees in discussing subjects with respect to
which two-thirds of them are wholly inexperienced.

" As the model system of the world, that of the Hospitals of
Paris ought not to be overlooked. In considering this question it
may be well to observe here that in them all the medical officers,
from the highest to the lowest, receive salaries, and that by abol-

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 241

ishiiig the office of Chief Resident Physician the Board will be
departing wholly from the principles of this model, and removing
the only paid and responsible officer w'ho can assist them in the
performance of a most important part of their duties."

" iVction was postponed for the present."

The physicians of the Homoeopathic Medical College were
very anxious to practice and teach in Blockley Hospital, and on
the 8th of August, 1859, they presented, through Mr. Linnard,
the following very liberal proposition :

" We, the subscribers, Physicians of the City of Philadelphia,
and Professors of the Homoeopathic Medical College of Pennsyl-
vania, propose to the Guardians of the Poor, as Directors of the
Blockley Hospital, to take entire charge of the medical department
of that institution, to carefully, punctually and faithfully examine
and prescribe for all cases that shall be sent to the wards of the
Hospital, we, ourselves, bearing the expense of all the medicines
which may be necessary, and we pledge ourselves that for one 3'ear
from this date the institution shall be at no expense for the same,
thus saving the cit}^ the sum of $12,000 for the year."

This was signed by Doctors Charles J. Hempel, John Redman
Coxe, J. W. Ward, Jacob Blakely, W. Ashton Reed, M. Semple
and Thomas Moore.

The Board was not prepared to consider such an important
measure at that time, so the proposition was laid on the table.

The office of Chief Resident Physician was abolished, to take
effect on the i5tli of September, 1859. " Dr. Smith was notified to
vacate and surrender possession of the premises now occupied by
him at the Almshouse."

This did not suit the doctor, and he ignored the notice until
he found that " discretion was the better part of valor." He sent
the following communication to the Board on October 11, 1859:
" I am willing at this time to deliver up possession of the house I
now occupy. My self-respect dictates that I should not remain
when the Board wishes me to go ; and I therefore relinquish all
m}^ legal rights,'' He strongly denounced Mr. Linnard, a member
of the Board, as the author of the proceedings against him ; he

242 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

said that he incurred the enmity of Mr. Linnard b^^ suspending a
relative of his (Mr. L.'s) from the Medical Department nearly a
year before.

After the reading of the letter, Mr. Linnard said that '" there
was not a word of truth in the assertions of Dr. Smith."

Whatever may have been the abilities of Dr. Smith, he seems
to have been a man of such temperament as to make himself dis-
liked by a large number of those with whom he was brought in
contact.

Much feeling and comment were caused by the omission of a
bid for furnishing the Almshouse with meat, which was sent to the
office of the Board by Mr. John Palmer.

Mr. Palmer swore that on the 31st of July, 1859, he handed to
Mr. Seultzer a proposal in writing to furnish the Almshouse with
beef for $4.95 per hundred pounds, which proposal he believed was
withheld from the Board after it was handed to Mr. C. M. Derrin-
ger, the Secretary of the Board.

Mr. Seultzer swore that he handed the proposal to Mr. Der-
ringer on the ist of August, and Mr. Charles B. Miller swore that
he was present at that time and saw Mr. Seultzer hand two papers
enclosed in envelopes, which he believed to be proposals for beef, to
Mr. Derringer ; he said the Secretary looked at them and said that
the endorsements were correct.

Messrs, Server, Marks and Dickinson were appointed as
a committee to investigate the matter. Messrs. Server and
Marks made a majority report, in which they stated : " Yotir
Committee are of opinion that the contract with Mr. Hunt
is a fortunate one.

Mr. Jones states in reference to it that the expectation was
in offering it that, if things should continue in statu quo for
two months, some two hundred dollars could be made on the
contract, and that by reserving the choice pieces for the regular
trade and furnishing the Almshouse the rough pieces called
for in the advertisement. But he also stated that within two
months the state of the market might so change that an immense
loss might result, even several thousand dollars. The profit, quad

History of Pliiladelpliia Alnislionses and Hospitals. ■24-\

rupled oil the amount stated above, would not be unreasonable,
3^our Committee think, in the face of the risk incurred, if
the above statement is made upon possible changes in the beef
market.

" Your committee was not charged to inquire whether Mr.
Hunt's contract should be abided by; but since Mr. Palmer in his
petition asks that the present award be set aside and his proposal
accepted, your committee take occasion to remind the Board that
3'our advertisement was for proposals from responsible parties, and
it may very properly be questioned whether, under the testimony
and statement exhibited, the public interests would be subserved
by a change.

'' Your committee conclude that the question ' the accident,
mistake or neglect ' b}^ which the proposal of Mr. Palmer was lost,
is a matter between that gentleman and Mr. Seultzer, and not
between this Board and its Secretar}'. It seems quite probable that
Mr. Palmer's bid would never have been heard of had IMr. Hunt's
bid been $5.22, or Mr. Seultzer's $5.16.

" Fully exonerating Mr. Derringer from all complicity or
neglect, your committee would conclude b}' expressing their confi-
dence in his faithfulness as an officer, and respectfully submit the
following resolution :

" Resolved^ That the committee be discharged from the further-
consideration of the subject."

Mr. Dickinson submitted a minority report, which stated " that,
upon inquir}^, he had. ascertained that the gentlemen who testi-
fied in relation to the facts of the alleged proposal having been
made by Mr. Palmer, are gentlemen of standing and entitled to
belief; and he felt constrained to give full credit to all the}^ had
sworn to relative to the alleged missing proposal submitted to the
Board, and which, from all the testimony adduced, he believed, must
have been lost or purloined from the Secretary's desk."

The majority report was agreed to and the committee dis-
charged.

The newspapers of that period commented upon the action of
the Board, and one of them had this editorial :

1>44 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

" The AlmshoUvSE Beef Contract."

" One of the most disgraceful proceedings that has lately oc-
curred in au}^ public body, was enacted in the Board of Guardians
of the Poor on Monday last.

" The details of the beef business are familiar to most of our
readers, but the manner in which the proposal of Mr. Palmer was
purloined or suppressed is likely to remain unknown only to the
guilty parties. No one doubts, or can doubt, that John Palmer
made a proposal in a proper manner to the Board ; and, according to
his testimony and that of another important witness, his bid was
lower than that of any or all of the others competing with him.
Messrs. Server and Marks, however, notwithstaning Mr. Palmer
offered to supply the Almshouse with beef at $4.95 per hundred
weight, consider the city quite * fortunate ' in being obliged to pay
Mr. Hunt $5.20; and they have the boldness to say that this con-
clusion of theirs was brought about by a statement of John H.
Jones, the late beef contractor of the Almshouse and brother-in-
law of this very man Hunt.

" The figuring of these apologists for fraudulent transactions
is really deserving of attention. The}^ say that Hunt, at the pres-
ent rates, will reap a profit of $100 per month, and yet they con-
sider that another party could not afford to supply the institution
for $80 per month, or five per cent, less than the profit above
stated. They are not willing that the Board shall pay an advance
of one thousand dollars per j^ear to one person, but they are will-
ing that another shall receive forty-eight hundred dollars for the
same service.

" They think, even, that this would not be at all ' unreason-
able.' It may appear right enough to Messrs. Server and Marks
thus to squander thirty-eight hundred dollars, but the public will
hardly agree with them or indorse such folly.

" But what right have the gentlemen to assume that JMr.
Palmer would not fulfill his contract as faithfully as Mr. John H.
Jones' brother-in-law ?

" He is, as far as we can learn, a man of equal respectability,

History of Pliiladelpliia Almshouses and Hospitals. 245

quite as honorable in his business transactions, and perhaps a little
better able to carry otit a contract in all its requirements. It is
a bold assumption, therefore, on their part, because wholly unwar-
ranted, and becatise it has added to the expenses of the Almshouse
management, without any jtistification whatever.

" Mr. Dickinson, whose minority report was more fair and just
in all its conchisions, has entitled himself to public approval for his
course on this stibject; and, indeed, his career throughout is in
marked contrast with that of Messrs. Server and Marks, who were
members of the Board in former years, and whose appointment
cannot but be regretted. Had stich experi-enced hands been ex-
cluded from appointment and men of Mr. Dickinson's stamp only
chosen, no whitewashing like that which has taken place would in
all probabilities have occurred. As it is, the President should
hereafter exclude Alessrs. Marks and Server from committees of
investigation, for the reason that they are utterly unfit to honorably
discharge the duties imposed."

At this meeting the House Committee presented a statement
showing that the}' had on hand three barrels of whiskey purchased
from Bispham & Son, which the committee, after having the qtiality
and price tested, considered of inferior quality and exorbitant price-

The article was said to have cost 62^^ cents per gallon, although
the bill had not been presented for consideration.

The qttestion of returning the whiskey to Messrs. Bispham &
Son, together with the bill of James Elliott for whiskey and port
wine, were brought before the Board for action upon them.

A long discussion ensued, and the quality of the whiskey fur-
nished by Mr. Elliott and Messrs. Bispham was discussed, during
which much temper was shown by some of the members of the
Board. Mr. Maris asserted that the whiskej^ furnished by ]\Ir.
Elliott was not worth more than 70 cents per gallon, for which he
had charged $1.50. This was a portion of the liquor purchased by
Mr. Bender, the apothecary, a brother-in-law of Mr. ]\Iarks. On
the other hand Mr. Marks denounced the whiskey bought of the
Bisphams as "vile trash," not fit for external application, and
demanded that it be returned. This was purchased by ]\Ir. Maris,

246 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

who also favored its return as, he said, Mr. Bispham could get 75
cents per gallon for it. As most of the members declared that they
were "no judges of the article,'' it was finally agreed that the bill
of Mr. Elliott should be paid, as the whiskey had been used in the
institution. The Board refused to return the whiskey to Messrs.
Bispham & Son, and the matter was dropped.

CHAPTER XXII.

PATHOLOGICAL MUSEUM— STUDENTvS ADMITTED FREE— BAKE-HOUSE

ERECTED.

r I -^

"^HE large number of vagrants and drunkards supported in
the Almshouse was a subject of much concern to the
Board of Guardians, and which was the best wa}' to abate
the nuisance was a question that was continually under
discussion. Mr. Dickinson showed the opinion he entertained
when he offered a resolution on the nth of October, 1859, that a
committee of three be appointed to confer with a similar Committee
of Councils and Prisons, to consider the initiatory steps to be taken
for the erection of a House of Correction. Messrs. Dickinson,
Robbins and Marks were appointed.

A new bake-house had been erected at a cost of $1,932.12, but
the bread furnished the inmates was not entirel}^ satisfactory to
everybody. Considerable complaint was made in some quarters,
and the press took up the subject. An editorial appeared in the
Daily Nezvs on Thursda}' morning, October 27th, 1859, which read
as follows :

" GoD Help the Poor.

" We were shown, a few da3's since, a sample of the bread
which is now doled out to the poor paupers of the Philadelphia
Almshouse, under the new reform regime of Messrs. Linnard,
Robbins, Marks & Co. If we kept a horse, we should consider
him but moderately fed with the stuff which was cut from one of
the loaves in the storehouse of this institution, and which now lies
on our desk.

" We are impelled to the belief that the men who will so far
forget the purposes of their appointment, would be well placed by
changing positions with those over whom they have been appointed
as Guardians.

" The history of this institution, as far as we can discern,
never before presented so deplorable and humiliatiug a spectacle as

247

248 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

at this moment. There are paupers there, and little children, as
we are informed, absolutely clamorous for bread, that which is pro-
vided for them, as before suggested, being entirely unfit for use.
The appetite that could master such diet must be voracious indeed,
and this is the kind of bread they give the sick and the children.
It is made from wheat middlings, which the baker said is purchased
for $3.75 per barrel, and is the only kind of bread now used in the
institution.

" But this is not the worst feature in the case ; even with such
diet furnished them, the quantity has been reduced to the starva-
tion point by orders of the Committee on Economy ; and the matron
of the Children's Asylum was found in tears a few days ago because
she could not supply the wants of those committed to her care
without disobeying orders and subjecting herself to the possibility
of a loss of her situation.

" We are informed by a visitor that the old, infirm and sick
who have friends visiting them and leaving their little contribu-
tions of money to purchase necessaries that are calculated to make
them more comfortable, now send out their money to buy bread !
Can this be possible ? Will it be tolerated in the city of Philadel-
phia ? Have the people of this great city the disposition to aid
three or four men in their efforts to show a reduction of twenty or
thirty thousand dollars in the public expenditures at the sacrifice
of every principle of humanity and the neglect of every Christian
duty ?

'' The new order of things has been established to convince
the people that money can be saved in managing the Almshouse,
and under the operation of this system we have no doubt it can.
But there is something more intrinsic than the money it costs.
Complaints from that institution come in thick and fast ; every-
thing there seems to be anarchy and confusion, and the present
majority, made up as it is by men who have sought the sympathy
and assistance of the Loco Foco party, seem to have but a single
idea and a single object, and that is to show at the end of their
term a saving of money.

" It is the appointment of such narrow, miserable men as these

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 249

to public office that brings disgrace upon the city, and it is from
just such men we would expect starvation. One of the members
of the Board, who as we are informed is on the Screw Press Commit-
tee, whilst curtailing the appetites and cutting off supplies at the
Almshouse, takes very good care to pasture his cows upon the public
grass, and it is, therefore, fair to suppose that he has more sj'm-
pathy for a dumb brute than for a human being, provided that
brute is a cow and his own, and the fellow-being a pauper.

" As there is such an extraordinary disposition to economize
in the Board of Guardians, we suggest to members that they should
inquire into this pasture business of Air. Linnard. It is a very
small matter, truly, but then this is the day of small things at the
Almshouse, and therefore it is a proper subject of inquiry."

A meeting of the committees to consider the subject of a House
of Correction washeld at the Almshouse on December 21, 1859.

During the discussion of the question, Mr. Dickinson, one of
the Guardians of the Poor, stated that they had recently put to work
between So and 100 men at one of the quarries on the Almshouse
farm, " getting out stone " to be used in the construction of work
sliops which it is proposed to commence in the coming spring, or
to be sold for the benefit of the institution. The men thus set to
work are those who have heretofore idled their time away in the
inside of the bollow square of buildings, smoking pipes and con-
versing together.

" This class comprises those who claim that they ' cannot
support themselves ; they would work if the}^ could get it to do,
but not being able to obtain employment, they are forced to go to
the Almshouse, in preference to starving.'

" The Guardians taking them at their word, have given them
work to do in the mode described and the result is there is a
decrease in the population of the House of nearly one hundred,
compared Avith the same time last year.

" The lazy class who frequent!}' winter at the Almshouse, find-
ing that they will be put to hard work inside, with considerable
personal restraint, have wisel}^ concluded to find work outside,
where they have more libert}'.

250 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

" There are still a number of mechanics, carpenters, shoe-
makers, tailors and others, who, although able to work cannot be
profitably employed at quarrying stone, which would disable them
so much that no advantage would result from putting them to work
at it. ' Man}^ of these are usefully employed at repairing in the
House, and if Councils should authorize the construction of new
workshops, there is little doubt that all who are able would be
profitably employed, and the Almshouse become in reality an insti-
tution for the relief and employment of the poor, as specified in
the Act of incorporation.' As a result of the conference it was
decided that the Departments of the Poor and of Prisons should
each petition Councils to appropriate sufficient sums to enable the
Guardians to erect suitable workshops at the Almshouse, and the
prison authorities to purchase more ground south of the prison and
to construct the necessary buildings for the accommodation of
prison uses and work shops.

" On the 3d of January, i860, Mr. Dickinson offered a resolu-
tion that provided for the ' immediate removal of the cells in the
vaults of the Lunatic Asylum.'

" Mr. Dickinson, in speaking in favor of its adoption, said :
' That since learning of the death of a lunatic in the cells of that
department, the Committee had visited the vaults referred to, and
to their surprise found that there were cells in them, and that
shortly before the present Board assumed control, these cells were
used for the confinement of prisoners.' "

The resolution was agreed to.

" The subject of the abuses of the out-door system of relief
was one that caused considerable discussion. It was an evil that
was very hard to eradicate ; much could be said on both sides, but
it seemed as though the evils destroyed the good that was intended.
' Poor orders ' were given to persons having a ' pull,' and supplies
were furnished to those who were not entitled to them, and were
amply able to do without such gifts. There were always frauds in
the world, and as neither modesty nor principle predominated in
their make up, they frequently succeeded in getting what was
intended for more deserving people.

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. -51

" The subject was ventilated at a meeting of the Board, held
on January i6th, i860, when Air. Alaris offered a resolution which
provided that a ' supply of bread should be placed in the offices of
the Visitors of the Poor, to be delivered whenever practicable, to
applicants for relief, in lieu of orders for groceries.'

" Mr. Maris, in the course of his remarks on the subject, said
that he had given some attention to this matter and he was
satisfied that there was a very great amount of abuse practiced
dail3^

" It has been ascertained that not a few of the applicants for
orders had obtained such luxuries as green tea, oranges, lemons, fruit,
white sugar, and other luxurious articles on them, instead of the
good solid necessaries of life. I have found upon close examina-
tion, that the list of names of persons who obtained aid from the
visitors of the poor, are recorded on many, if not all of the charita-
ble organizations of the city. We have the sick, the aged, and the
infirm, whose every day wants should be supplied, and on the
other hand we have a good-for-nothing set of laz}', idle loafers, who
work in the warm weather, and spend their money in rum drink-
ing, and then depend upon the Guardians of the Poor, and other
charitable institutions for support. I am well aware of these facts,
but am not prepared at present to take final action. The subject
will certainl}^ have my earliest consideration, and I hope that of
the members of the Board also.

" By cutting off the lazy, improvident set of rum-drinking
loafers, we would have a better opportunit}^ of giving to the deserv-
ing poor, of which we have many in our midst."

Mr. Linnard desired to corroborate what Mr. Maris had said,
■and after some further debate, the matter was " withdraAvn for the
present."

The Committee on Manufactures reported on January 30th,
i860, that Councils had appropriated $5,000 to construct a work-
shop ; the Committee was instructed to proceed with its erection
on the plans adopted.

Another subject that claimed considerable attention at this
period, in the community at large, as well as in the Board, was the

252 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

report, frequently repeated, of the robbing of the graveyard of the
bodies deposited there.

The ferryman, who had charge of this part of the institution,
appeared to have been a man of very low character, and several
attempts were made to dispense with him ; but he seems to have
had lenough influence to retain his position.

One of the papers of that time contained the following edito-
rial, which shows some of the feeling that existed regarding this
matter :

" Modern Body-Snatching.

" In the personnel of the Almshouse are two officers between
whom there exists an irreconcilable antagonism. The one is the
estimable Mr. Linnard, of the Board of Guardians, and the other
is a genius who occupies a position whose incumbent is termed the
'' ferryman." Mr. Linnard is in some respects a queer fish, while
the ferr3anan is an equally queer fish in other points of view. Mr.
Linnard bears a strong likeness to many of the portraits of George
Washington, and being a hard-shell Baptist deacon, wears a volum-
inous w^hite neckcloth, with fastenings hid from human vision, and
supposed to be lying perdu somewhere about the spinal column.
The ferryman isn't particular as to what Jie wears, and in personal
appearance is suggestive of a cross between George Munday and a
ghoul. The duties of the ferryman, now that the ferry is abol-
ished, are to supervise the engine by which water is pumped intO'
the buildings, to take charge of the banks of the river, to boss the
paupers in the quarr}^ and to attend to the duties of the grave3'ard.
The latter is an institution of which few people except medical
students and professors have any knowledge. Medical students
during the winter season are charged from ten to fifteen dollars for
each human subject for the dissecting tables, and a brisk business
is done during the terms of the college lectures in the corpses of
those who die at the Almshouse and whose bodies are not claimed
by friends. Of revenue to the city not a single cent inures by the
sale of these bodies ; and as the ferryman has the sole control of
the matter, the inference that the ferr^anan's position is a paying
one is certainly admissable.

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 253

" A spicy debate occurred at the last meeting of the Board of
Guardians from this especial cause. Mr. Linnard, in the sincerity
of his purposes, objects to this traffic in human corpses, and espec-
ially when the proceeds do not inure to the benefit of the city.
He is plain and blunt in his address, is Air. Linnard, and signifi-
cantly said that he preferred to see bodies openly carried away from
the graveyards by medical students, to seeing the pockets of the
Superintendent surreptitiously lined b}- the auriferous traffic.
Mr. Linnard's resolution to abolish the office of Superintendent of
the Graveyard failed only by a tie vote. If renewed at some future
time it will be likely to carry, for some of the members who voted
in the negative voted under a misapprehension of the case.

" We are not the foe of science. For this reason we cannot
oppose the relinquishment to the medical colleges of the bodies of
those who die at the public charge, without friends whose feelings
might be lacerated by the circumstances.

" But it is right and proper that whatever revenue accrues
from this source should be paid into the treasury of the Board, to
aid in defraying the heavy expenses for the support of an army of
paupers, and of whom three-fourths are of foreign birth. If Mr.
Linnard with his characteristic pertinacity in whatever he believes
to be right, should still adhere to his movement, we think he will
accomplish it, and that the wisdom of his policy will be vindicated
by the removal of the present ferryman, and the abolition of mod-
ern body snatching as practiced at the Almshouse."

A singular circumstance occurred in July, i860. It seems that
certain parties made a bet, over which a dispute arose. The
Guardians of the Poor entered suit to recover the amount of money
involved in the bet, and obtained a judgment of $Soo against each
of the wagers. A communication was received from the City
Solicitor enclosing one from Thomas Greenbank, attorne\', offerino-
as a compromise for both suits the sum of $1,000. The Cit}' Solic-
itor advised the settlement, and the Board followed his advice.

At the meeting on the i6th of August, i860, Mr. Dickinson
offered the following :

" Whereas, The buildings at present appropriated to the use of

254 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

the Insane Department of the Almshouse are overcrowded and im-
properly arranged for the judicious classification and proper treat-
ment of the patients, thus thwarting, in a great measure, the efforts
of the Board of Guardians to place those under their care in the
best possible condition by the influence of properly applied disci-
plinary and medical treatment, to insure their restoration to reason,
and to relieve the public of the burden of their support ; and,

" WherEAvS, The number. of admissions in this department is
steadily increasing, and thus constantly adding to the existing
difficulties and demanding the serious consideration of this Board ;
therefore, be it

" Resolved^ That a committee of five be appointed to examine
the buildings at present appropriated to the use of the epileptic,
idiotic and insane patients of the Almshouse; also the .buildings
occupied as general hospital ; and to report for the consideration
of this Board plans for rearranging and altering or extending tbe
same, in order that the patients therein may be better accommo-
dated, and such other matters appertaining thereto as they may
deem of interest."

This called forth a lengthy discussion, during which Mr.
Maris, who was elected President upon the death of Mr. Keyser in
February, stated that he thought the inquiry of the Committee
should be extended so as to consider whether a House of Correc-
tion could not be erected on the Almshouse grounds. He said
" that in five or six 3'ears the insane department would be entirely
overcrowded. At present there are 450 inmates, and in a year or
two there would doubtless be 550, which would be beyond the
limits of the present buildings to accommodate. It has been sug-
gested by old members of the Board, that, by making certain
changes in the buildings, a portion of the premises might be used
for a House of Correction, which would save $150,000 to the City."

The resolutions were adopted and Messrs. Dickinson, Server,
Erety, Brown and the President were appointed.

The fiollowing was presented at the meeting on September
24th, i860:

" Gentlemen. — The Committee on Hospital and Insane De-

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 255

partments, to which was referred the communication of the Medical
Board snggesting the propriety of establishing a nuiseum for the
preservation of pathological and other specimens to aid in the in-
vestigation of diseases, respectfully report : That they have given
the subject much thought, and are of opinion that a museum of the
kind contemplated would be a valuable acquisition to the Medical
Department of the Hospital and Almshouse, and can be collected
and arranged at a comparativel}^ trifling expense to the institution."

Respectfully,

M. H. Dickinson,

J. M. LiNNARD.

The Committee was authorized to make the necessary arrange-
ments for establishing a museum ; provided the expense would not
exceed at any time the appropriation for that purpose.

At this same meeting it w^as decided '' that hereafter the stu-
dents attending the ]\Iedical Colleges, would be allowed to visit the
hospital free of charge, and not be compelled to purchase tickets of
admission, as they had previously been compelled to do."

CHAPTER XXIII.

HOUSE AGENT DISMISSED— WORKSHOPS AND RECEIVING VAULT

ERECTED.

R. DICKINSON, Chairman of the Committee on Manu-
factures reported, " That they had erected upon the site
of the old wooden workshop, a substantial stone build-
ing 1 60 feet long, 50 feet wide and two stories high.
The lower story of the building will be appropriated to the use of
the carpenters, wheelwrights and the fire apparatus belonging to
the institution. The second-story will be occupied by the shoe-
makers, tailors and weavers, the Superintendent of Manufactures,
and storeroom for the use of that department. The building
formerly occupied by the weavers has been converted into a black-
smith shop, with the necessary furnaces and forges for doing all
the work appertaining to this branch of industry.

" The entire cost of the building, exclusive of the material ob-
tained from the quarry and sand banks on the premises, the greater
portion ot the labor having been performed by the inmates of the
Almshouse, was $4,348.16."

The erection of this building gave great satisfaction, and as a
proof that the work was well done one need only look at it at the
present time, as it is still in use for the purposes for which it was
erected.

In connection with this subject one of the papers of that date
said : " Heretofore, the Almshouse was a sort of caravansera for
able bodied but lazy men and women. Under the old Board, espe-
cially, stout and hearty loafers found comfortable quarters at the
public expense, their only service in return, being performed at the
polls when this political vagabond or that desired preferment.
Under the present regime^ with the prospect of work before them,
this class have kept aloof and it is to be presumed that, with the
successful prosecution of the manufacturing system there, the
House will become what it was intended to be — a refugfe for
the suffering and deserving poor.
266

■^fe'

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 2o7

" With the details of the Committee's plans for the future we
have not as yet been made acquainted, though it is stated that car-
penters, cabinet makers, turners, wheelwrights, coopers, painters,
tin and sheet-iron workers, shoemakers, tailors and weavers are to
be kept steadih' employed. It is presumed, however, that they will
be compensated, as they should be, for their labor, over and above
what it costs to maintain them. Such a policy would be a just and
encouraging one. It would conduce to greater industry and inure
to the benefit of the cit}^ as well as to the paupers themselves.
Mau}^ of the latter are illy fitted for life's struggles in the broad
world, and, unrestrained, are of no service to society or themselves.
Such, b}^ an encouraging S3^stem of compensation, could be induced
to remain where temptations do not beset them and where the}^
may be enabled to lay by something for future years of effort. At
au}^ rate, they should be paid for the labor they render bej^ond the
actual cost of their support and management.

'' To the operations of this workshop we look with more than
ordinar}^ hopefulness. It will, if properly directed, lead to what is
generally desired — in the establishment of a more extensive House
of Employment for petty offenders of all grades.

" The necessity of an institution of the kind is universalh^
admitted, not alone as a matter of mere monetary econoni}', but as
a conservator of the peace and morals of the community. There
are thousands of instances occurring every year which demonstrate
the policy of an early and earnest movement in that direction ; and
arguments in its favor have been and are presented weekly and
daily, either by grand juries, the proceedings of our courts, the
records of our prisons or the hearings before the police magistrates.

'^ Petty offenders are not necessaril}' criminals as the term is
generally applied. They are not as a general thing wilful in their
acts. Idleness and vagrant habits have far more to do with their
offenses than their moral status ; and with class emplojnnent and
restraint — not in prisons, but in Almshouses — can effect much in
the way of reform. A helping hand and cheering words do more
in raising the fallen than the felon's brand or the common curse;
and the sooner society is made to understand and act upon this
17

258 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

truth, the greater will be the safeguards around both person and
property."

An editorial in another paper at that time brought a phase of
one of the abuses of outdoor relief into view in commenting upon
the action of the Board in adopting a resolution to check the
fraud. The article ^aid :

"A Needed Regulation.

"At the last meeting of the Guardians of the Poor, at the in-
stance of Mr. Dickinson, a resolution was adopted, by which the
coal contractors are required to take receipts for all the fuel they
deliver, and. present such receipts as vouchers for their bills. In
former times there were many irregularities, to use no harsher
term, in the delivery of fuel to the suffering poor. In many in-
stances, well-to-do favorites of the Buzzards were supplied with
winter warmth from the public bin, and in others charges were
frequently made where no deliveries had taken place. Of course,
there was no remedy. Under this resolution, however, it will be
easy to ascertain who receives the fuel and in what quantities ; and
should false charges be made, forgery will be added to dishonesty.
The offenders can, therefore, be readily reached."

It looks strange to see in a minute book a record " that Mr.
Williams presented a communication from the nurses and others
in the Almshouse, asking if some means could, not be devised by
which the}^ could get their pay for the last four months, not hav-
ing even received warrants, which they would be willing to sell at
a discount."

Good service could hardly be expected under such circum-
stances, and there was mismanagement somewhere, when em-
ployees were treated in that manner.

Councils, acting under the advice of the Board of Plealth,
directed that the vSmall Pox Hospital should be closed after ist of
April, 1861.

The Guardians of the Poor notified the Board of Health that
" in future no more small pox patients will be received by this
Board on the Almshouse grounds."

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 259

A communication was received from the Board of Health in
reply to the notice, saying that the same was unbecoming and out
of place for a department that provides for the pauper popula-
tion, etc.

On motion of Mr. Marks, " this ver}^ becoming communication "
was laid on the table by the Guardians.

Messrs. George Williams and James Marks tendered their
resignations as members of the Board on March nth, 1861. They
were accepted.

The Visitors reported that they had relieved 9,453 persons at
a cost of $4,178.83. The nativity of those relieved was : 335 Ger-
mans, 1,606 Irish, 147 English, 5 Welsh, 32 Scotch, 2 Italians, 13
French, 645 Philadelphians, 421 Pennsylvanians, and 600 from
other parts of the United States.

The House Committee reported the average population of the
House for the last quarter to be an increase of 235 over the same
period of the previous year. The population on jMarch 6th
was 2,745 ; same time of previous year it was 2,386, an increase

of 359-

This was just previous to the commencement of the war of
the rebellion. There were large numbers of worthy people thrown
out of employment, and thousands of families suffered for the
necessaries of life. The Guardians of the Poor were kept busily
engaged in the distribution of out-door relief. All of the charit-
able organizations were also doing the same kind of work. All
•kinds of calls for contributions were issued, and it was stated that
" There never was a greater need of aid than now, nor objects more
deserving of Christian charity."

Mr. Mahlon H. Dickinson tendered his resignation as a mem-
ber of the Board. Mr. Linnard said he hoped an inducement
would be held out to Mr. Dickinson, in order that the Board might
not lose so industrious a member. Mr. Brown spoke in very high
terms of the energy, zeal and experience of Mr. Dickinson. He
regretted that the resignation had been sent in.

It was generally acknowledged that Mr. Dickinson was one of
the most valuable members of the Board, and so, without doubt, he

260 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

was. After much persuasion the resignation was withdrawn, and
Mr. Dickinson rendered good service for several years after.

A resolution offered by Mr, Erety to establish an asylum for
foundlings brought out a lengthy discussion. The President
stated "that the deaths of foundlings in the House were 95 out
of 100. The cause of this mortality was owing to the foul air
in the wards. The deficiency of food was also another cause. A
mortality of 95 per cent, is awful ; there is a great necessity for
doing something. At present the little children do not get
enough to eat ! This statement is alarming but true. A number
of women could be obtained, anxious to nurse the children. I
favor the establishment of a separate ward for the foundlings. If
that will not decrease the mortality list, something else must be
done."

Mr. Brown was inclined to think that the deaths were not so
many as stated. During a late visit, he said, the children pre-
sented a healthy appearance. He was not opposed to any means by
which the condition of the children could be ameliorated. He also
stated that two children had been taken from the House and con-
fided to the care of the Sisters of Mercy at Tacony.

Mr. Hrety eulogized the Sisters of Mercy for thus coming
forward in the discharge of a high and meritorious calling. He
was willing that this fact should be known. For the Christian
charity which they manifested let them have credit. Is there any
other denomination who would come forward in the same Christian
spirit ?

Mr. Cresson said " other denominations take care of old people.
This denomination has an object in " taking little ones. I am
opposed to giving the children to any such people."

Mr. McGrath defended the Sisters from the imputations sought
to be cast upon them by the language of the previous speaker.
The denomination to which they belong are always anxious to do
the best in their power for young and old. He alluded to the
proselyting attempts of the Beggar detectives, by which young
children were stolen away and taught to forget the faith of their
parents.

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 261

The matter was finall}- referred to the Hospital and Children's
Committee.

On the 22d of April, 1861, the Honse Agent was dismissed for
" Applying public money belonging to the City, that has come into
his hands as an officer of this Board, to his own private use, con-
trar}^ to Law," and his accounts were placed in the hands of the
City Solicitor for " such action as he ma}^ deem proper to take.'

Several attempts had been made to have an Act passed to au-
thorize the sale of some of the Almshouse property. Different
reasons were advanced as to why this should be done, the principal
one being that it would furnish the means to build a House of Cor-
rection. Whatever the reasons were, the interested parties suc-
ceeded in having an Act passed and approved. May ist, 1861, just
as the rebellion broke out, when the public mind was so absorbed
that no notice was taken of this legislation. After events clearly
show that the erection of a House of Correction had but little place
in the minds of those who had the Act passed. This important
Act reads as follows :

" Section i . — Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsj-lvania in General
Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the
same, That the City of Philadelphia, is hereb}^ empowered to make
private or public sale, and conve}'- in fee simple or reserving ground
rents, the present Almshouse grounds, or any part thereof, situate
in the twenty-seventh ward of the city, containing one hundred
and eighty-seven acres, more or less, and the buildings thereon
erected, subject to the following conditions :

" I. That the City of Philadelphia shall reserve a part of said
ground, not exceeding fort}^ acres, to be laid out and maintained as
an open public place forever, for the health and recreation of the
people.

" 2. That the said City shall also reserve at Pine and South
Streets, on the river Schuylkill, pieces of ground sufficient, in the
opinion of the Chief Engineer and Surveyor of said city, for abut-
ments and approaches thereto, for a bridge or bridges, which ma}^
be lawfully authorized to be erected at either of said streets.

262 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

"Section 2. — That the City of Philadelphia is hereby au-
thorized to purchase land and erect thereon an Almshouse or Poor
House (with or without a house of correction and employment, as
may be deemed expedient), and in pa3mient thereof to create a loan
which shall be exempt from State tax.

" Section 3. — That the proceeds arising from the sale of
grounds and buildings specified in the ist Section of this Act shall
be specificially applied to and pledged for the purpose of payment
of the loan authorized by the Second Section of this Act ; and if
ground rents shall be reserved, or mortgages taken in payment,
the same, when sold or paid off, shall be applied to and for the
same purpose."

The firing upon the American flag at Fort Sumter fired the
blood of the people of the North, and men from all the w^alks of life
volunteered b}'' the thousands. All kinds of encouragement was
given by employers to their workmen who desired to enlist ;
promises of assistance to the families of those who went to the
field were freely given, and every inducement was held out to get
volunteers for the Army and Navy, The Guardians of the Poor
were not behind in that line, as the records show that Mr. McGrath
offered the following resolution, which was adopted :

" Resolved^ That the place of any officer connected with this
Board, who may enlist in the service of his country, in defence of
the national flag, shall not be vacated, and the salary of such officer
shall be continued and paid as usual during the absence of such
officer."

At the meeting held on the 13th of August, 1S61, Mr.
Dickinson offered a resolution " that the Committee on Hospital
be instructed to inquire into the expediency of employing the serv-
ices of Homeopathic physicians for such persons as require out-
door relief, that may desire that kind of medical treatment."

Mr. Server was opposed to having two kinds or classes of phy-
sicians employed.

Mr. Linnard thought the majority of out-door cases would
prefer the Homeopathic treatment. If this resolution would pass,
it would be a preparatory step to test the merits of both kinds of

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 263

treatment. He advocated the Homeopathic S3^stem, if for no other
reason than that it would be less expensive to the Board.

Mr. Brown said he would be glad to see the Medical Depart-
ment of the Almshouse equally divided between the AUopathists
and the Homeopathists. There was no good reason why it should
not be so. In other countries such a system prevails, and works
admirabl}^

Mr. Server replied, " Introduce such a system and we will
have endless discussions, quarrels and bickerings. Why not allow,
also, the Botanic and Eclectic s^^stems to be introduced?"

Mr. Linnard said, " Give them all a chance. If science, in its
onward march, revolutionizes long established systems, it is gen-
erally for the better, and we should not be resisting the tide of
progress. The old physicians would, a few years ago, drug a
patient with doses, the quarter of which they would not dare to ad-
minister to-day. Homeopathy has opened the eyes of the old
practitioners, and the results are ever}^ da}- seen. I have all my life
been under Allopathic treatment until recently.

The President said, " The gentleman has certainly attained a
good old age under that treatment."

Mr. Whitall said it was unnecessary to send the matter to the
Hospital Committee, for they would negative it. For myself, he
said, " I would not give Homeopathic treatment to a sick dog."

The resolution was amended so as to refer the subject to a
Special Committee, and was then adopted. Messrs. Dickinson,
Brety and Taylor were appointed as the Committee. At the next
meeting of the Board two reports were made. IMessrs. Erety and
Taylor declared it was inexpedient at this time, and asked to be
discharged from the further consideration of the subject.

Mr. Dickinson presented a minority report, saying that " many
of the poor will need such treatment, as they would rather be
treated in the manner in which they have most faith." A reso-
lution attached to the minority report provided for the election of
four homeopathists.

The majority report was adopted. One of the new^spapers of
that period said in an editorial article :

264 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

" The Guardians of the Poor have decided that if the out-door
recipients of the charity of our city don't choose to swallow the
medicines administered by the allopathic physicians, they may
remain sick. An application to permit the administration of home-
opathic remedies, where the patient prefers that treatment, was
voted down. This decision is not at all creditable to the intelli-
gence or liberality of the Board."

Again, the scandals of " graveyard robberies " had become so
clamorous that some notice had to be taken of them. Mr. Server
offered a resolution making it " imperative on the Farm Committee
to allow no persons to enter the grounds unless having a properly
authenticated permit, setting forth their business."

Mr. Dickinson offered a substitute, as follows :

" Whereas, It is manifestly the duty of this Board to secure
to the unfortunate persons who die in the Almshouse the rites of
Christian burial, and to extend to their remains after interment the
same care and protection as is given to those who have friends and
relatives to watch over and guard their last resting places ; and.

Whereas, From the isolated position of the unguarded grave-
yard attached to the Almshouse, there is no security against the
disinterment of the bodies deposited therein ; be it therefore

" Resolved^ That the Committee on Farm and Garden be in-
structed to select a site suitable for the purpose and estimate the
cost of erecting thereon a safe and substantial receiving vault
wherein to deposit and keep the remains of those who die in the
Almshouse, until removed by their friends or their graves rendered
secure from violation by reason of the partial decomposition of their
bodies." This was agreed to.

On September 19th, 1861, the new Clinic Room, erected in the
rear of the Drug Store, at a cost of $2,765.05, was formall}^ inaug-
urated. Dr. J. L. Ludlow delivered an able address on the occa-
sion. The old clinic room, in the Insane Department, was floored
over and divided into doctors' offices, lecture room, etc.

CHAPTER XXIV.

INSANE CONVICTS RETURNED FROM STATE HOSPITALS— STEAM
HEATING INTRODUCED.

CONSIDERABLE anxiet}^ was caused in the latter part of
the year 1861, by the return to the County Prison of the
insane prisoners sent from that institution to the State
Insane Asylum at Harrisburg. Under the act which
established the State Asylum the several counties were authorized
to send to that institution such criminals as were declared insane,
A subsequent act changed the system and it was made a curative
establishment, the officials being authorized to send back to the
counties such persons as might be declared incurable. Six of those
sent from Philadelphia were returned to the County Prison in No-
vember, and the lack of accommodations in that institution com-
pelled the officials to request the Guardians of the Poor to receive
them in the Almshouse.

The names of those returned were Ephraim Gear, Louis
Durow, John Jennings, John Logue, George Auble and Jane
Glazier.

Gear, who w^as an old man, made an attempt to shoot Jonas P.
Fairlamb as he was stepping from the door of the Court of Quar-
ter Sessions into the grounds of Independence Square, about nine
years previous. The Court was in session at the time, and the
occurrence caused much excitement. Gear was immediatel}^ ar-
rested and the Judge committed him for trial. He was acquitted
on the ground of insanit}-, but was confined in the county prison
about two years ; after which he was kept in the State Asylum
seven years.

Durow was a Prussian, who had been transferred from the
debtor's apartment to the count}^ prison several years before, for
attempting to cut the throat of one of the inmates. While in the
prison he made several attempts to murder persons before he was

sent to the Asylum, where he spent several years.

265

260 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

John Jennings was an old man, and but little was known of
him at the prison. He spent a number of years in the Asylum.

John Logue was a notable character. He was known as the
*' Man witb the Military Walk." He would disappear at times ;
then appear on the main streets with high-top boots and buckskin
gloves, and strut along in true military style. For a time he was
simply amusing, but finally he became troublesome and was
arrested for assault and. battery. He was pronounced, insane and
sent to the Asylum.

Auble was a German, forty years old, who killed an inmate of
his cell by hitting him with an iron plate. He was acquitted on
the ground of insanity, and the Court committed him to the
Asylum.

Jane Glazier had been a resident of Kensington. She had
been arrested on suspicion of killing her husband and became
insane in consequence of it. She spent several years in the State
Insane As3'lum.

At a meeting of the Board of Guardians, Mr. Hrety offered
the following :

'^ Resolved^ That a committee of three be appointed to examine
and report on the probable number of insane, epileptic and idiotic
patients it will be necessary to provide for in the Insane depart-
ment of the Almshouse, in contemplation of the insane patients
from Philadelphia now in the State Hospital at Harrisburg being
returned to Philadelphia, and together with the insane now in the
Philadelphia County Prison, being thrown for support and mainte-
nance on the Guardians of the Poor."

The resolution was adopted, and Messrs. Erety, McGrath and
Server were appointed as the committee.

Mr. Dickinson discovered that the Resident Physicians were
in the habit of punishing the patients under their charge by the
use of a shower-bath and otherwise. He offered a resolution to
prevent it. Mr. Server offered an amendment, striking out all
after the word "AVWrW," and inserting " That no authority has
been delegated by the Board of Guardians to the Resident Physi-
cians for the infliction of punishment upon patients under their

History of Philadelpliia Almshouses and Hospitals. 2tj7

charge, either b}^ commitment to the cells or b}- means of the
shower-baths, and any infraction will snbject the offender to imme-
diate suspension by the Hospital Committee." This was agreed to.

The needs of the Army for the suppression of the rebellion
were recognized at that time, as will be seen by reports to the
Board. The Matron submitted a communication on the 13th of
January, 1862, which shows, "with the sanction of the committee,
have made, by the women in this department, and furnished to the
Pennsylvania troops on the Potomac, 1000 pairs of good woollen
stockings and 100 pairs of cloth socks."

Mr. Dickinson offered the following :

" Resolved^ That the Steward be authorized to loan to the
United States Government, for the use of the military hospitals in
this cit\% the hospital tents belonging to this department ; and, if
desired, on the part of the Government, he is further authorized to
grant permission to have them set upon the farm attached to this
institution."

The resolution was adopted.

The census showed a decrease of more than 300 in the popu-
lation of the house, in comparison with the previous 3'ear. A great
many of the men who generally spent at least part of their time in
the house had gone into the service of the countr}-.

Mr. ]\Iaris called attention to the reduction made by Councils
in the estimates furnished by the Board for the expenses of the
House for 1862. The item for flour had been reduced from S2 7.600
to $25,000, and the item for beef and mutton from 528,000 to
$25,000. He said that it used to cost, with the present population,
for beef and mutton, $61,000. He regretted the action of Councils,
because it had been done without an\' examination, and was the
first evidence shown b}^ them of a want of confidence in the present
Board. He thouofht it would be reconsidered and corrected.

The Committee on Outwards made report of the bad condition
•of the roofs of the buildings, and instructions were given to obtain
estimates for new coverings. The roofs at that time were covered
with copper. Estimates were received and it was decided to take
off the old copper and put tin on instead. The copper was sold for

268 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

$35,070.78, and as tlie new tin cover cost $12,496.28, there was a
balance of $22,574.50 which was used on the children's asylum.

It was common talk for years that " the ' Board of Buzzards ^
stole the roof off of the Almshouse," but this statement refutes the
assertion.

The Committee to whom was assigned the duty of erecting a
vault for the reception and safe keeping of the bodies of those who
died in the institution, reported — " That in accordance with in-
structions, they had a vault erected in the Almshouse grounds, at
a cost not exceeding $100."

The receptacle was twenty-five feet long and twelve feet wide,
and was fitted to hold forty-two cofiins. The substantial manner
in which it was built and its close proximity to the residence of the
outside watchman, made the Committee feel confident that the
bodies deposited therein would remain undisturbed until they were
no longer desirable for the dissecting table.

A resolution was adopted which directed the Committee on
Hospital " to place the receiving vault under the care of one of
the officials of the House, who shall be held responsible for the safe
keeping of the bodies deposited therein, have them removed and
properly buried when danger of disinterment no longer exists, and
no sooner ; and also see that the objects of the Board in having the
vault constructed be strictly carried out."

One of the inmates of the Insane Department succeeded in
committing suicide by drowning. The matter was investigated
and the Committee made a ver}^ singular report, in which it was
stated : " The suicide of Mrs. Jenkins was unavoidable, she having
drowned herself in the bath tub, the room door being open to allow
the patients to wash, at the time."

The report was accepted.

One would think that ordinary care for the insane would have
suggested the necessity of having an attendant on duty in the
bath room at the time " when the patients were allowed to wash."
That precaution would have prevented that poor woman's sorrow-
ful end and the odium which is produced by such criminal care-
lessness.

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 209

The matter of providing separate apartments for foundlings
was again called up in April, 1862. Air. Maris said, "The little
ones in the Almshouse positive! 3^ do not get enough to properly
sustain life. I called the attention of a member of the Board to a
beautiful little blue-ej-ed bab}^ six or eight months old, that would
have adorned the parlor of any gentleman here, or been the well-
spring of pleasure in any home in the world. This was only a
short time ago. But a few days since I saw that innocent baby ;
its blue eyes had begun to fade, its eyelids were red, and certain
other indications plainly evidenced that it was afflicted with maras-
mus. This was the result of not feeding the baby properly.

'• On asking the nurse why she did not feed it better, she
replied : ' I can't, for I haven't milk enough for my own baby.'

" Are you going to let this little strange bab}^ die for want of
proper nourishment ?

" ' Well, I can't help it, I haven't any more milk than will sup-
ply my own.' This is a fair sample of the condition of the found-
lings in the Almshouse."

Air. Brown said " that not long since a ' pair of twins ' were left
at the Almshouse, and the ' Sisters of Alerc}^,' who have a home
at Tacou}', have taken charge of them, and sa}^ the}' are read}' to
take charge of all the foundlings.

" The Sisters of Alercy have an office at Fourth and Franklin
Streets, where little foundlings may be left, instead of being
placed on sundry door steps, sidewalks and in alleys, as has been
too often the case during the past year or two. The door steps of
the Sisters of Mercy's office are said to be wide and handy.''

The subject was referred to Committee with power to act.

Notv/ithstanding that a vault had been erected to protect the
bodies of those who had died in the institution, it appears that the
" traffic " continued, as the minutes of the meeting of the Board,
held November 3d, 1862, show that Air. Dickinson offered the fol-
lo\\'ing : '• Resolved^ That the vSteward be instructed to have the
bodies of those who die in the House placed in the receiving vaults,
there to remain as provided for by the rules of the Board."

A motion was made to postpone, but was not agreed to.

270 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

Air. Erety said that there was a report published in the New
York papers that the House had been closed against medical stu-
dents. Therefore, the New York medical colleges were making
capital out of these statements, and they were having a damaging
effect upon our medical colleges."

Mr. Dickinson thought " there should be a law passed in this
State similar to the one in New York. In the latter place the col-
leges are entitled to the bodies of paupers, and get them without
pay ; while here there is a regular traffic in dead bodies, which the
Board is anxious to stop. This business has been going on all
summer. As soon as the burying of bodies in the grave3''ard was
begun, the colleges commenced to steal them. The speaker had
been informed by the watchman on the bridge that every night
bodies were taken over, and he supposed they were from the Alms-
house. About three weeks ago a body was found lying near the
fence of the grounds, and it is supposed that the resurrectionists
had been disturbed in their work.''

The resolution was laid on the table. This action called forth
comments in the newspapers, and one of them had this editorial :

" BuzzARDiSM Revived."

" Some tiine ago the Guardians of the Poor, in order to put an
end to the Buzzard practice, had a vault built for the reception of
the dead bodies of paupers, in which they could be kept until
claimed by relatives, if called for in a reasonable time, or until
decay had so far progressed as to render the bodies useless for
purposes of dissection. This regulation, if strictly carried out,
would have put an end to the ' Buzzard ' practices which have
excited so much attention in connection with that institution. It was
a wise and good arrangement. At a recent meeting of the Guard-
ians, however, a retrograde movement was decided upon. It was
resolved that during the warm weather the reception vault should
not be used for purposes of interment as formerly. What might
be considered ' warm weather ' and how long the warm weather
was to last, were left unexplained. This action, however, opens
the gates for the medical schools completely. Theoretically the

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 271

bodies of the paupers who died at the Almshouse were always interred
in the burying ground, but practically thc}^ were not. The sum-
mer is the great season for the medical schools, the bodies being
prepared to keep by proper injections in the veins and by preserv-
ing them in whiskey, ready for the commencement of lectures at
the colleges in the fall. Are we therefore to understand that the
Guardians of the Poor have determined to reopen this traffic, not-
withstanding the pretence of opposition to it which the erection of
the receiving vault was supposed to signif}' ? "

A communication was received from Councils in reference to
the erection of a Municipal Hospital for cases of contagious dis-
eases.

Messrs. Dickinson and Haines were elected Commissioners to
superintend the building of the Hospital, in connection with the
committees appointed by Councils, the Board of Health, the Prison
Inspectors and the Mayor.

The House Agent's report showed that the number in the
House was 2,869 ; at the same time, in 1861, there were 3,275
inmates. This decrease of 406 was probably- caused by the enlist-
ments for the army or nav3\

At the meeting of December 15, 1862, the following communi-
cation was received :

" The Junction Railroad Company have located their line of
Railroad through the City Almshouse property, alongside of and
immediately adjacent to the ground now occupied by the West
Chester Railroad Co., and at a meeting of the Board of Directors,
held December 10, 1862, the following resolution was adopted :

" ' Resolved^ That the Engineer and Secretary of the Company
be, and they are hereb}- authorized to make application in form to
the Board of Guardians of the Poor to enter upon and take posses-
sion of such property belonging to the City as may be necessary
as right of way for the construction of the Junction Railroad, and
to further arrange, if possible, with said Board for such Jur}- or
Board of Viewers as may be necessary to fix upon the value of
property so used, and to perfect title to the Railroad Compan}-.'

" The undersigned would respectfully request the appoint-

272 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

•

ment by the Board of Guardians of some person or persons with
whom they can confer on this subject and make the proper arrange-
ments in accordance with the above resolution at as early date as

possible.

" John A. Wilson, Eng'r.

"Joseph Leslie, Sec'y."

The matter was referred to the Committee on Farm, in con-
nection with the President.

The amount assessed for the valuation of the ground required
was $10,000, and it was paid by the Company in 1865.

An ordinance was passed and approved December 31, 1862,
which provided for sending the feeble-minded children from Block-
ley to the Training School at Media. This was a very wise and
charitable movement ; it was a great relief to the officials of the
institution, as it was almost impossible to care for these poor unfor-
tunates in a proper manner there. The term feeble-minded is very
elastic, and it has been stretched to cover a large number of dif-
ferent kinds of mental and nervous ailments. Special treatment is
required for these various diseases, and it seems to be wise to send
these cases where the proper treatment can be given.

Twelve children were sent in 1863, and since then the number
has been increased, from time to time, until now there are more
than one hundred and sixty in that institution, for whose mainte-
nance the City of Philadelphia defrays the expenses.

Councils appropriated money to commence the heating of the
buildings by steam in 1863. The Committee on " Ventilation and
Warmth " was instructed to procure apian by which ventilation and
warmth would be secured in all the buildings connected with the
Almshouse, and " directed to proceed with the work and complete
as much thereof as can be done with the appropriation made by
Councils for that purpose."

As so many of the able bodied men connected with the insti-
tution had entered the United States service, Mr. Taylor offered a
resolution on June 16, 1863, with a proviso which read :

" Whereas, There is not at present in the Almshouse a suf-
ficient number of able-bodied men (paupers) to perform the neces-

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 273

sary work, the Committee on Manufactures be authorized to make
arrangements with the Board of Prison Inspectors to transfer from
the prison to this institution sucli male vagrants as can, in the
judgment of the committee, be made useful to the public by labor-
ing in and about these premises."

At the same meeting a committee of iive was appointed to con-
fer with the Committee of Councils in reference to the starting of
a House of Correction.

The drafting of men to fill the quota for the army took four of
the six resident physicians in Jul}^ and another in August, 1863.

President Maris retired from tbe Board, and Mahlon H. Dick-
inson was elected in his stead October 6, 1863.

Mr. Lee offered a resolution, on February 9, 1864, which
instructed the " committee to inquire and report whether it is
advisable to invite applications from soldiers who ma}^ be disabled
in the field to be employed in the various offices under the charge
of the Board."

Four boilers for heating purposes were contracted for, to cost
$1,400 each.

Mr. Dickinson resigned May 17, 1864, and Air. George Erety
was elected as President to fill the vacancy.

CHAPTER XXV.

TERRIBLE ACCIDENT IN INSANE DEPARTMENT— NEW MUNICIPAL

HOSPITAL OPENED.

ON the morning of July 20th, 1864, at about six o'clock, tlie
foundation of a pier, which was the central support of a
series of arches which upheld a chimney-stack and walls,
on which rested the joists of the second, third and attic
stories of a tier of wards in the transept of the women's portion of
the insane department, gave way, and without any warning, the
whole division wall and chimney-stack fell in with a crash, burying
many of the patients in the ruins. Of these fifteen were killed
outright or died very soon after they were extricated, and twenty-
five were more or less severely injured, of whom two subsequently
died. The wards in which the accident occurred were 45 feet by
48 feet in size, and the wall that fell divided them through the
centre.

The ward on the first floor was occupied on one side of the
arches as a sitting-room for the epileptic and idiotic patients, about
sixty in number, and on the other as their dining-room and that of
the colored patients, about thirty in number. Breakfast was just
being prepared, and if the accident had happened fifteen minutes
later, there could hardly have been less than seventy-five killed on
this floor alone. As it was, there were but three killed, one of
whom was an assistant nurse, and a few slightly injured.

Those in the sitting-room were protected by the joists of the
second floor, which fell in the centre, but rested against the outer
walls. The patients were left in the angle thus made, mostly
unharmed.

The ward on the second floor was all used as a sitting-room
for eighty patients, a large portion of whom were carried into the
vortex, and several were killed and others wounded.

The ward on the third floor was used as an infirmary, and was
occupied by about twenty-five sick and infirm women, many of
274

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 275

whom were in bed. Nearly all of these, with the nurse in charge,
were precipitated to the first floor, and a large proportion of the
killed and wounded belonged to this ward. The nurse escaped
most miraculously, with a few bruises. The nurses on the lower
floors had fortunately just left their wards.

The attic floor was occupied as a sleeping-room by the washer-
women, scrubbers, etc., and they had just gone down. It is remark-
able that so few were killed and injured.

In 1849 ^ contract was made with Birkenbine & Martin to
construct a heating apparatus. In performing this work in the
basement, the centre piers and chimneys were cut entirely through
a width of six feet, leaving eight inches on one side and four on
the other to support the pier above.

The condition of the walls under the piers had not been no-
ticed until within a few weeks previous to the accident, when work-
men were engaged in making a different arrangement for heating.
As soon as it was noticed, workmen were employed to strengthen
the foundation, and were so engaged on the day preceding the acci-
dent, a temporary wooden upright had been placed under the pier
that fell, and preparations had been made to build a solid wall
under this pier.

The Coroner's Jury, after investigation, said : "There is no
doubt whatever in the minds of the Jury that the cutting awa}^ of
the piers was the cause of the accident. It is possible, however,
that the preparations made the day before may have hastened the
catastrophe. Independently of this, the pier must have soon given
way, as the Jury noticed a settling of floors opposite to all of the
piers similar to the one that fell. It is onl}^ a matter of surprise
that it did not happen long before. The Jur^^ cannot but condemn
in the strongest terms the reckless manner in which the altera-
tions were made in 1849. -^^ cave whatever appears to have been
taken to examine into and preserve the strength necessary to sup-
port the weight of the walls, piers and floors above."

The verdict of the Jur}^ was : ^' That on the 20th da}' of Jul}-,
1864, ^^^ victims of the disaster came to their deaths by reason of
injuries inflicted by the falling of the division walls already noted,

276 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

together with the floors resting on said walls, the primary cause
being the careless manner in which the walls under the centre pier
were cut away, in constructing and introducing heating apparatus
in the year 1849."

It will be remembered that at the time the work was done it
was not at all satisfactory and the Guardians refused to pay for it.
The contractors entered suit and it was settled by a compromise.

There was considerable discussion, at this period, about the
large number of deaths in the Children's Asylum, which led to the
appointment of a Committee of Councils to " investigate and
report what the average population of the iVsylum was during the
two years dating back from June ist, 1864, together with the mor-
tality during that period ; also the two 3^ears dating back from June
I St, 1862, together with the mortality during that period."

The Committee reported that the information had been ob-
tained and a report from the Guardians of the Poor, enclosing a
voluminous statement from the Medical Board, was presented to
Councils. President Erety, on behalf of the Guardians, said : '' To
have furnished a mere statement of the number of inmates and
number of deaths in the Children's x'\s3dum, during those four
years — without giving some other items of information in explana-
tion of what might have appeared a very high rate of mortality —
would have scarcely answered the spirit and design of the inquir3^
In order to afford to Councils all the light upon the subject within
our control, the Board of Guardians requested the Medical Board of
the Almshouse to supply them with the statistics, as well of the
Children's x^sylum of the Almshouse, as also of such other kindred
establishments elsewhere as they had knowledge of, and also with
such other information as they might think useful to Councils, or
to the public, upon the inquiry presented.

" The latter report is hereto annexed, and reference thereto
requested, as presenting the statistics called for, and the material
facts necessary for a proper understanding of the causes which
produce the large proportion of deaths in the inmates of the
Children's Asylum.

" These causes may be reduced to the following heads :

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 277

" I. The very low physical condition of one class of the
inmates at the time of coming into the Asylum — viz. : the
Foundlings.

" II. The defects of the sewerage and ventilation of the Alms-
house building used for the Children's Asjdura.

" III. The proximity of the Asylum to the Surgical and Medi-
cal Wards of the Almshouse.

" The first of these causes no effort on the part of this Board
or its Medical Officers can remove. It is the history of all estab-
lishments receiving and caring for foundling children, that a very
large proportion of them die in infancy, by reason of the diseased
constitutions they have inherited from their parents ; it seems so
ordered by Providence. Even with the utmost care and attention
which can be afforded by good medical attendance and nursing, this
result is certain to follow, as the facts detailed in the medical
report will demonstrate. Yet, our duty is plain, to sustain and
preserve these lives, feeble, imperfect and diseased as the\' may be,
by all means and efforts within our reach.

" The second of these causes, this Board, through its Com-
mittee having charge of the Children's Asylum, have done and are
doing all that lies in their power to remedy, with the means at
their command for the purpose. When it is borne in mind that
no other location for this Asylum was open to the Board than one
of the Wards of the Almshouse, which in its original construction
was deficient in the important items of proper sewerage and ven-
tilation. Councils can well understand that though subsequent
alterations may make some improvement, this Board cannot, while
occupying their present quarters for the children, properly provide
in these respects for the wants of the inmates as they could in a
separate building designed exclusively for these objects of the
public care, with the improvements which modern science and
present experience have proved to be necessary for suppUing an
abundance of fresh air and proper drainage.

" In respect to the third cause, as above stated, this Board
have long since been impressed with the conviction that no altera-
tion of the apartments in the present Almshouse building, now

278 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

used for the Children's Asylum, will ever render them suitable for
the purpose for which they are now used, and that the health of
the children can onl}^ be properly provided for in a building sepa-
rate and apart from the wards now occupied by the sick and infirm
adults. Acting under this conviction, this Board heretofore applied
to Councils for authority to construct such a building.

" This authority was granted by an Ordinance passed the 19th
day of April, 1862, upon the terms therein prescribed, and a special
appropriation of the surplus realized on the sale of the old copper
roofing (after defraying the cost of a new roof) was made towards
the construction of such building.

'' The Board of Guardians, after the passage of this Ordinance,
proceeded to have plans matured and prepared of a plain, substan-
tial building, of a capacity suitable to the wants of that particular
portion of the Almshouse population, the estimated cost of which
was, at that time, $50,000. The work was actually commenced, so
far as with the labor at our command from the inmates of the
house, to grade and prepare the site and to quarr}^ the stone to be
used in the building. But when the time arrived for the purchase
of other materials and the employment of skilled mechanics, the
prices had advanced to such a point as to deter us from further
prosecution of the work, as the cost of the building would probably
have reached nearly twice the original estimate.

" While the Board have refrained, under present circumstances,
from pressing upon the attention of Councils the great want felt
for this new building, they still express the hope that the time will
soon come when an adequate fund can be placed at their disposal
to ensure its completion, and that the claims of these children upon
us can be met and discharged in a manner worthy of our city,
which has won a name for its efforts to relieve the poor and the
helpless, in which the citizens take a just pride.

" It is proper, in conclusion, that the Guardians should add
that as to the care and treatment which the children receive at the
hands of the medical attendants, matrons and nurses, they appear
to be as well provided in those respects as they can be while
occupying such apartments in the Almshouse as it is in the

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 279

power of the Guardians to at this time devote to their accommo-
dation."

The Medical Board's report, in giving the statistics, said :
" It will be right, however, to remark, in anticipation, that the
principal mortality in the as3'lum is due to the presence of found-
lings, and these foundlings were not admitted to the wards until
the loth of August, 1861, hence the ratio of deaths in i860 differs
in so marked a degree from that exhibited in the following years.

" The following table will show the relative population and
mortality in the Children's Asylum :

YEARS. POPULATION. MORTAiiTY. OF WHICH -WERE FOUNDLINGS.

1860-61 .... 352 .... 28 00

1861-62 ... 462 .... 79 37

1862-63 .... 460 .... 91 33

1863-64 .... 486 .... Ill 36

" It might, perhaps, be proper here to state, as explaining the
great mortalit}^ exhibited by these figures as occurring among the
foundlings, that these children come into the institution under the
most unfavorable circumstances. They are generally the children
of the vicious and diseased, and the constitution which the}- inherit
from their parents is such as to make their earl}^ death unavoidable.

"But in addition to this large class of foundlings, others are
admitted reduced to the lowest extremity by many other causes,
such as starvation, exposure, improper clothing and the free use of
narcotic poisons ; most of these are dying when admitted, few sur-
vive one month, notwithstanding the utmost care.

" Statistics of infant mortality show us, that of all the chil-
dren born one in three dies before the completion of the first year.
It is easy to understand, therefore, that the mortalit}^ among in-
fants in an institution devoted exclusively to their care must
necessarily be very large, even under the most favorable circum-
stances. But when we bear in mind that these infants, instead of
being placed in our care under the most favorable circumstances,
are brought to us under conditions the very reverse, we can easily
perceive that the rate of mortality must be greatly increased."

This report contained statistics of the mortality in other couu-

280 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

tries and States : " The proportion of deaths at Turin is estimated
at 75 per cent, of the total admissions. At Moscow the admissions
during ten years averaged 5,255 annually, and the deaths 3,471.
During the ten years from 1822 to 1831 inclusive, 39,114 children
were deceived into the hospital at St. Petersburg, and 31,799 died.
It was stated that 317 died out of 417 who were admitted into the
hospital at Arch-Angel.

" At the close of the last century, the mortality of foundlings
during the first year was, at St. Petersburg, 40 per cent.; at Paris,
80 per cent.; at Florence, 40 per cent.; at Marseilles, 90 per cent.;
at Barcelona, 60 per cent.; and at Dublin, 91 per cent.

" In the Foundling Wards of the Blockley Hospital the whole
number of admissions into the Children's i\sylum up to June ist,
1864, was 154, of which 126 died, or nearly 82 per cent."

The report spoke of the defective sewerage and ventilation and
suggested some improvements. It expressed J;he hope that when
the heating apparatus, then in course of construction, was com-
pleted, if connection could be made with proper flues, great im-
provement in the ventilation might be anticipated.

The reports appeared to be satisfactory to Councils, and the
committee was discharged from the further consideration of the
subject.

When we consider the feeling that had existed between the
members of Councils and the Board of Guardians of the Poor, extend-
ing over a period of many years, it is very refreshing to read the
report of a special committee, appointed to investigate certain
charges made against the management of the Almshouse, presented
by Dr. Uhler, chairman, at the meeting of Councils held on the
27th of October, 1864. 1"^^ report said: "After a full and thor-
ough investigation of the matters confided to us, in which we have
received every facility, as well from the Guardians as from the offi-
cers of the institution, your Committee is satisfied that not the
slightest foundation exists for the charges made in Councils, and
they cannot refrain from expressing their regrets that so serious a
charge against one of our most important public institutions
should have been made upon no better authority than mere

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 281

idle rumor, set afloat most probably by some gossiping old
woman."

The report was accepted and the committee discharged.

The annual report of the Visitors showed that the total num-
ber who received out-door relief during the 3'ear 1864 was 60,651 ;
of whom 20,657 were white adults, 31,795 white children, 3,399
colored adults and 4,800 colored children. Of the whole number,
10,740 were Americans, 13,316 foreigners and 36,595 children.

A communication was received on November 27th, 1865, from
Dr. S. D. Gross, resigning his position as Surgeon of the Philadel-
phia Hospital, a post to which he had been annually re-elected for
the past seven years. President Erety remarked that he greatly
regretted the resignation of Dr. Gross, which he understood was
caused by the great increase of his practice, and he suggested to
the Board the propriety of creating an Emeritus position, which
could be conferred on eminent medical practitioners on their resig-
nation from offices held under the Board, so that they could, without
fear of being accused of interference, give aid and advice at the
Hospital during the prevalence of epidemics.

The resignation was accepted and Dr. F. F. Maury, of the
Medical Staff, was subsequently elected to fill the vacanc3^ Dr.
Garvin was elected to fill the vacancy on the Medical Staff.

The falling off of the population of the House during the
years that the Rebellion lasted shows clearly how it was affected
by the War. The largest number of inmates during the year 1861
was 3,299. In 1862 it fell to 2,881, in 1863 it was 2,746, while in

1864 it was only 2,683. In 1865, after the close of the War, it
increased to 3,015, and it was reported that on Christmas Da}' in

1865 the number in the House was 651 more than were there on
the same day in 1863.

The new Municipal Hospital for the treatment of contagious
diseases, which had been erected on the grounds at Twenty-second
Street and Lehigh Avenue, was formall}- opened on April iSth,
1865. ^t was expected to relieve the Almshouse b}- caring for
cases of small pox, etc., from that institution, and was much
needed.

282 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

After ineffectual attempts had been made at a number of the
meetings of the Guardians to elect a Chief Physician for the In-
sane Department, Dr. D. D. Richardson was selected on November
13th, 1866, to succeed Dr. Butler who had been in charge there
since September, 1859, when it was separated from the hospital and
made a department by itself.

In answer to an inquiry the Board informed the Governor of
the Commonwealth that, on March 5th, 1867, there were 182 Penn-
sylvania soldiers in the Almshouse, of whom 152 were white and 30
colored. Of these eight were in the Insane Department.

On x^pril 17th, of that year, General Wagner offered the fol-
lowing in Common Council :

" Whereas, The rapid progress of improvements in the
Southern, Western and Northwestern portions of our city will
necessitate the early removal of our prisons and Almshouse ; and,

" WherEAvS, An economical management of our penal and
reformator}^ institutions require their concentration as well as their
location on ground not accessible to general improvement ; therefore,

" Resolved^ By the Select and Common Councils of the City
of Philadelphia, That a Joint Committee of three from each cham-
ber be appointed to consider the feasibility of acquiring possession
of Treaty Island, commonly known as Petty's Island, or such
other suitable location, for the purpose of erecting thereon our
County prison, penitentiary. Almshouse, houses of correction and
refuge, as they may be removed from their present location from
time to time."

The resolution was passed and the Committee appointed, but,
as no action was subsequently taken by Councils it can be assumed
that it was found to be impracticable, as Treaty Island is within the
Jurisdiction of the State of New Jersey.

George Hrety, Esq., President of the Board of Guardians died
on August nth, 1867. Mr. John M. Whitall was elected Presi-
dent to fill the vacancy.

Dr. D. Hayes Agnew resigned his position as Curator, Octo-
ber 15th, 1867, and Dr. William Pepper was elected in his place.

CHAPTER XXVI.

FIRST GROUND SOLD TO THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSVLVANIA— ^VINGS
TO INSANE DEPARTMENT BUILDINGS.

WE now come to the sale of tlie first piece of Almshouse
ground to the Universit}^ of Pennsjdvania, and, as that
was the entering wedge, the matter is reported in full.
On the 13th of IMay, 1869, the Chairman of the
Finance Committee reported favorably upon a bill entitled " An
Ordinance to sell a tract of land situated in the Twenty-seventh
Ward, belonging to the City of Philadelphia.''

" Section i — The Select and Common Councils of the City
of Philadelphia, do ordain, That the following described real estate,
belonging to the City of Philadelphia, situated in the Twenty-
seventh Ward, of said City, bounded and described as foUoxvs, viz. :
Beginning at a point in the middle of Thirt^^-fourth Street, con-
tinued, where the same is intersected by the Northeastern line
of the Blockley Almshouse farm ; thence southward along the
middle of said Thirty-fourth Street, crossing Locust and Spruce
Streets continued, about eleven hundred and twenty-three (1123)
feet to the middle of Pine Street, as proposed to be continued, sixt}'
feet in width ; thence eastwardly along the middle of said last men-
tioned proposed street, crossing Thirt3'-third Street continued,
about seven hundred and seventy-eight (778) feet to the middle of
Thirty-second Street as proposed to be laid out, sixty-feet in width ;
thence continuing northeasterl}-, along the middle of said last-
mentioned street, about five hundred and eight (508) feet to the
middle of Spruce Street, continued ; thence eastwardly, along the
middle of said Spruce Street, about two hundred and five (205) feet
to a point in the northeastern line of the Blockle}- Almshouse farm
aforesaid, and thence northwesterl}^ along the said northeastern line
of the said Blockley Almshouse farm, crossing Thirty-third Street
and Locust Street, about fourteen hundred and forty (1440) feet to
the middle of said Thirt3^-fourth Street and place of beginning, con-

283

284 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

taining together and included in said bounds nineteen acres and
sixteen one-hundredths of an acre, more or less, be and is hereby
sold by the City of Philadelphia to the Trustees of the University
of Pennsylvania, their successors and assigns, for the price or sum
of eight thousand (8000) dollars per acre, payable in cash at the
time of the execution and delivery of the deed ; ''''Provided^ however y
That the proceeds of said sale shall be paid to the City Treasurer
and form part of the sinking fund of the City of Philadelphia. •

^^And also^ That the said Trustees shall, when requested by
Ordinance or the Survey Department, duly dedicate to the City of
Philadelphia for public use as streets and highways all the ground
covered by the streets or parts of streets which shall or may pass
over said tract of land.

^''And also^ That they, the said Trustees, shall at the time of
the execution of the deed, enter into a sufficient agreement with
the City as to require them, without expense to the said City, to-
open, grade, pave and curb said streets and parts of streets and
intersections thereof, at such times and manner as may be deemed,
necessary by the authorities of said City,

^^ A fid a/so, Tha.t said Trustees shall, at the same time, enter
into an agreement with the City that said property or improve-
ments to be made thereon shall not be exempt from taxation, except,
that portion thereof as is actually in use for University purposes,
and that even such exemption shall not be claimed until such time
as all the other real estate owned by said University become liable
to taxation.

^^And also, That the terms of sale mentioned in this Ordinance
shall be accepted and fully complied with by said purchasers within
six months from the date of its passage, and said purchasers shall
pay all expenses for stamps and conve^^ancing.

"Section 2, — That the Mayor of the City be and is hereby
authorized to afBx the corporate seal of the City to such deed or
deeds as ma}^ be necessary to convey the said tract of land to the
said purchasers in accordance with this ordinance."

The bill passed Common Council on that day and was sent to-
the Select Council for concurrence. It was called up for consid-

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 2S5

eration on June iitb, and, after some discussion, it was indefinitely-
postponed.

Nothing appears to have been done until November 4tli, at
which time Mr. Cattell moved " that the Chamber do now resume
the consideration of the bill," which was agreed to by a vote of i6
to 12.

An amendment was offered to the first section to strike out
the description of the propert}" proposed to be sold, and inserting
in its place the description of a tract in a different location. After
the reading of the amendment it was moved that the further con-
sideration of the bill be postponed, and that it be made the special
order for the next stated meeting, at 4.30 p. m. The motion was
agreed to.

At the meeting on November nth, Mr. Cattell moved "that
the Chamber do now proceed to vote upon the motion to reconsider
the vote indefinitely postponing the bill, the proceedings as to this
bill at the last stated meeting being informal and erroneous."

This was agreed to by a vote of 14 to 11.

It is hard to understand how a motion to reconsider a vote that
had been taken five months previously could be entertained, but it
was acted on by Select Council.

The motion to indefinitely postpone the further consideration
of the bill was then declared to be before the Chamber. It was not
agreed to by a vote of 11 ayes to 16 nays. Mr. McCall moved that
the bill be laid on the table.

This was decided negatively by the same number of ayes and
nays.

The bill thereupon being again before the Chamber on second
reading, Mr. Cattell moved as a substitute for the bill under con-
sideration the following : " An Ordinance to authorize the sale of
the lot of ground in the Twent^^-seventh Ward."

" Section i. — The Select and Common Councils of the City
of Philadelphia do ordain, That the Ma3'or of the city be and is
hereby authorized to sell to the Trustees of the University of
Pennsylvania, their successors and assigns, all that certain lot or
piece of ground, being part of what is conmionl}- known as the

286 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

Almshouse Farm, situate in the Twenty-seventh Ward of the City
of Philadelphia, and bounded and described as follows, viz. : ' Begin-
ning at a point where the northeastern boundar}' line of the said
Almshouse Farm intersects the middle of the Darby road, thence
along said boundary line southeastwardly to a point where the
same intersects the middle of Thirty-fourth Street, as continued,
thence along the middle of said Thirty-fourth Street southward,
crossing Locust Street, to a point where the said line intersects the
middle line of Spruce Street, thence as along the middle line of
Spruce Street, continued, westward to a point where said line inter-
sects the middle line of Thirty-sixth Street, as continued, thence
northward along the middle line of said Thirty-sixth Street to a
point where the said line intersects the middle line of said Darby
road, thence along the middle line of said Darby road by its several
courses northeastwardly to a point where said middle line inter-
sects the said northeastern boundary line of the Almshouse Farm,
being the place of beginning, for the price of eight thousand dollars
an acre, the area of said piece of ground to be ascertained by a
survey thereof, to be made by the proper survey officers of the City
of Philadelphia : Provided,, That before the deeds shall be executed
the streets (excepting Irving Street) as proposed unanimously by
the Committee on Poor, shall first be opened and dedicated to the
public use, so far as the above property is concerned : And pro-
vided^ hoivever,, That the proceeds of said sale shall be paid to the
City Treasurer and form part of the Sinking Fund of the City of
Philadelphia : And provided also,, That the said Trustees shall,
when requested by Ordinance or the Survey Department, duly
dedicate to the City of Philadelphia, for public use as streets or
highways, all the ground covered by the streets or parts of streets,
which shall or may pass over said tract of land : And provided also,,
That they the said Trustees shall, at the time of the execution of
the deeds, enter into an agreement with the City as to require
them, without expense to the City, to open, grade, pave and curb
said streets and parts of streets and intersections thereof at such
times and manner as may be deemed necessary by the authorities
of said Cit}' : And provided also,, That said Trustees shall, at the

History of Philadelphia Alinshoiises and Hospitals. 287

same time, enter into an agreement with the City, that said prop-
erty or improvements to be made thereon shall not be exempt from
taxation, except that portion thereof as is actnally in nse for Uni-
versity purposes, and that even such exemption shall not be claimed
until such time as all the other real estate owned by said Univer-
sity becomes liable to taxation : And provided also^ That the terms
of sale mentioned in this Ordinance shall be accepted and fully
complied with b}' said purchasers within six months from the date
of approval by the Alayor of this ordinance, and said purchasers
shall pay all expenses for stamps and conve3^ancing.'

" Section 2. — That the Mayor of the City be and he is hereby
authorized to affix the Corporate seal of the City to each deed or
deeds as may be necessary to convey the said tract of land to the
said purchasers, in accordance with this Ordinance."

Mr. McCall moved that the bill and the proposed substitute
be referred to a Special Committee of three members of this cham-
ber. The motion was not agreed to.

The question being on the motion to substitute the bill oflfered
by Mr. Cattell, it was agreed to by a vote of 21 to 5.

It will be seen that the Select Council bill reduced the area of
ground very materially. The Common Council bill covered ground
to the eastward of Thirt3^-fourth Street, running from Darby road
(now Woodland Avenue) to Pine Street, and from Thirt3^-fourtli
Street, to the line which was at about where Thirty-first Street
would be located.

The Select Council substitute included the ground extending
from Thirty-fourth to Thirt}^-sixth Streets, and from Darbj' road
to Spruce Street.

Upon the second reading of the bill Mr. McHvain moved to
amend by adding the w^ords : " And provided a/so, That the said
University shall pa}^ the cost of curbing and paving said Woodland
Street or Darby Avenue, along the front of said property now being
curbed and paved," which was agreed to.

The question being on the section as amended, Mr. Duff}^ moved
to further amend by striking out the words " eight thousand dollars "
and inserting in their place the words " fifteen thousand dollars."

288 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

Mr. Mcllvain moved to amend the motion by striking out the
words " fifteen thousand dollars " and inserting into their place the
words " thirt}^ thousand dollars."

On Mr. Mcllvain's motion the vote was : Yeas, Messrs. Duffy,
Fox, Harkness, Hodgdon, Hookey, Hopkins, McCall, McCutcheou,
Mcllvain, Shallcross and Shermer — ii. Nays, Messrs. Arm-
strong, Bumm, Cattell, Cramer, Franciscus, Jones, Kamerly, Ker-
sey, King, Marcus, Morison, Plumly, Ritchie, Smith and Stokley,
President — 15. vSo it was not agreed to.

On the motion to amend by inserting fifteen thousand in place
of eight thousand the vote was : Yeas, Messrs. Duffy, Fox, Hark-
ness, Hodgdon, Hookey, Hopkins, Kamerly, McCall, McCutcheon,
Mcllvain, Plumly, Shallcross, Shermer and Stokley, President — 14.
Nays, Messrs. Armstrong, Bumm, Cattell, Cramer, Franciscus,
Kersey, King, Marcus, Morison, Ritchie and Smith — 11. So the
amendment was agreed to.

The question being on the section as amended, Mr. McCall
moved to further amend by adding : " And provided also^ That if
an}^ portion of said ground should be offered for sale by the said
University, then and in that case, the portion so offered for sale
shall revert to the City of Philadelphia at the original price paid to
the City by the said University." This was agreed to.

On motion of Mr. Cattell further consideration of the bill was
postponed until the next meeting.

On November 25th the bill was again considered, when Mr.
Mcllvain moved to amend by striking out the words " fifteen thou-
sand dollars,'' and inserting the words " twenty thousand dollars "
in their place. The call of the roll was :

Yeas : Messrs. Barlow, Fox, Hodgdon, Hookey, Hopkins,
Kamerly, McCall, Mcllvain, Shallcross and Shermer — 10.

Nays: Messrs. Armstrong, Bumm, Cattell, Cramer, Francis-
cus, Jones, King, McCutcheon, Marcus, Plumly, Ritchie, Smith
and Stokle}^, Pres't — 13.

So the motion was not agreed to.

The question being on the section as amended, the vote was :

Yeas: Messrs. Armstrong, Barlow, Bumm, Cattell, Cramer,

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 289

Franciscus, Harkness, Hookey, Jones, Kamerl}-, King. McCutch-
eon, Marcus, Plumly, Ritchie, Smith and Stokley, Pres't — 17.

jVaj's : Messrs. Fox, "Hodgdon, Hopkins, McCall, Mcllvain,
Shallcross and Sliermer — 7.

The section as amended was adopted.

The second section and the title were agreed to, and the bill
was read a third time and passed finally.

It will be noticed that all of the members voted for the bill as
amended, making the price fifteen thousand dollars per acre,
except seven of those who had voted to make it twenty thousand
dollars.

The bill went back to Common Council for concurrence in the
amendments. When it was called up for consideration, Mr. Shoe-
maker moved to amend by striking out the words '' fifteen thousand
dollars" and inserting in their place the words "eight thousand
dollars,'' and to also strike out the two provisos.

On motion of Mr. Hetzell, the further consideration of the bill
was postponed and made the special order for the next meeting at
five o'clock, P. M.

When it was called up at the next meeting it was again
postponed.

On December 9th it was considered. The question being upon
the motion to amend b}^ striking out " fifteen thousand dollars "
and inserting " eight thousand dollars," and to strike out the two
provisos.

The motion was agreed to by a vote of 26 to 19.

The bill was passed as amended and again went back to Select
Council.

On December i6th. Select Council proceeded to consider the
amendments of Common Council. The}^ were read, and Mr. Fran-
ciscus moved to concur. Upon the vote to concur, the 3'eas were
Messrs. Armstrong, Bumm, Cochran, Cramer, Franciscus, Hooke}",
Jones, Kersey, King, jMcCutcheon, Marcus, ^Morison, Plumly,
Ritchie and Smith — 15.

The na3's were JMessrs. Duffy, Harkness, Hodgdon, Hopkins,
Mcllvain, Shallcross, Shermer and Barlow, Pres't />ro tcni. — S.
19

290 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

So the motion to concur was agreed, to, and Mayor Fox ap-
proved the bill on December i8th, 1869.

An ordinance was passed and approved December 18th, 1869,
directing and authorizing the City Solicitor to prepare deeds of
dedication for the following streets, so far as they lie within the
Blockley Almshouse grounds, viz : Locust Street, sixty {60) feet
wide ; Spruce Street, eighty (80) feet wide ; Pine Street, seventy (70)
feet wide ; Thirty-fourth Street, seventy (70) feet wide ; also Thirty-
second, Thirty third. Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh Streets,
each with a width of sixty (60) feet.

On July 7th, 1870, Councils appropriated $70,000 for the
enlargement of the buildings of the Insane Department. Wings
were added, running at right angles with the main building, in the
rear of both the male and female ends. They were three stories in
height, with cell-rooms on each side, and furnished accommodations
for about 180 patients.

Another change in the method of selecting the members of the
Board of Guardians was made in 1871, when the Legislature
passed an Act which took the power of appointment from the
Judges of the Courts and authorized Councils to elect four mem-
bers each year thereafter, one of whom should be selected from the
minority party.

Dr. William Pepper resigned from the position of Curator
November 27th, 1871, and Dr. James Tyson was elected to fill the
vacancy.

An Ordinance was passed and approved May i8th, 1872, which
read as follows, viz :

"An Ordinance authorizing the sale and conveyance of a tract
of land in the Twenty-seventh Ward to the Trustees of the Uni-
versity of Pennsylvania for hospital purposes.

" WhereAvS, An application has been made to the Councils of
the City of Philadelphia by members of the Medical Faculty and
Board of Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, with other
citizens, for the grant and conveyance to the said Trustees of the
University of Pennsylvania, of a tract of land now the property of
the City, for the purpose of erecting thereon a hospital and build-

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 291

iiigs pertaining to the instruction to be there given ; and in consid-
eration thereof, the said Trustees have agreed that the said tract of
land, when so conveyed, shall never be alienated from the said
University of Pennsylvania, and to erect and maintain forever on
said ground a general hospital containing at least fifty free beds,
for the care and relief of the poor in times of sickness or accident ;
and

" Whereas, We, the Councils of said City, believe that the
proposed object is one of the purest benevolence, and a wise dis-
position of the property of the citizens entrusted to our keeping ;
therefore :

"Section i. The Select and Common Councils of Philadel-
phia do ordain, That for and in consideration of the sum of five
hundred dollars ($500) in cash, to be paid to the Commissioners
of the Sinking Fund of the City, and the covenants and condi-
tions hereinafter set forth, to be kept and performed .by the Trus-
tees of the University of Pennsylvania, that the Mayor be and he
is hereby authorized to sign, seal, acknowledge and deliver on
behalf of the City of Philadelphia, the necessary and proper deed
of conveyance, whereby all that certain tract or piece of land, sit-
uate in the Twenty-seventh Ward, bounded on the north by the
middle line of Spruce street, on the east by that of Thirty-fourth
street, on the south by that of Pine street, and on the west b}' that
of Thirty-sixth street, containing five and a half acres, more or
less, shall be sold, granted and conveyed unto the said Trustees of
the University of Pennsylvania and their successors, in fee simple,
in trust, for and subject however to the following uses, covenants
and conditions, to wit :

" First — That the said tract or piece of land shall be forever
held by the said Trustees of the University of Pennsjdvania, for
the purpose of erecting thereon and maintaining a building or
buildings, to be devoted to general hospital purposes as aforesaid.

" Second — That the said Trustees shall erect and complete the
said building within five vears from the first day of Jul}-, A. D.
1872.

" Third — That the said Trustees shall set apart and forever

292 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

maintain in said hospital, at no time less than fifty free beds, for
the use of the poor of the City requiring hospital treatment.

" FourtJi — That the said Trustees shall report to Councils in
the month of January succeeding the erection and completion of
said hospital, and annually thereafter, the number of free beds
maintained, together with such information as may be desired by
Councils.

" FiftJi — That in the event of the failure of said Trustees of
the University of Pennsylvania to erect and complete said hospital
building within five years from the first day of July, A. D. 1872,
or upon said completion they shall refuse or neglect to set apart
and forever maintain at all times, not less than fifty free beds for"
the poor of the City, w^hen requiring hospital treatment ; or shall
sell or alienate the said tract or piece of land hereby authorized to
be conveyed to them, or au}^ part thereof, then such sale and alien-
ation by said Trustees shall be null and void, and the tract or piece
of land hereby authorized to be conveyed to them, with the build-
ing or buildings thereon erected, shall revert to, and again become
the property and estate of the City of Philadelphia.

'' Section 2. That the covenants and conditions set forth in
the first section of this ordinance, shall be fully recited in and
made a part of the deed and conveyance, to be executed by and
between the Mayor on behalf of the Cit}', and the Trustees of the
University of Pennsylvania.

" Section 3. That all ordinances or parts thereof, so far as
the same may be inconsistent with the provisions of this ordinance,
be and the same are hereby repealed."

The terms of the ordinance must have been satisfactory to the
Trustees of the University, as they sent a vote of thanks to Coun-
cils on the 4th of June, 1872, "for their very liberal grant of
land, and accepted the ground on the conditions named in the
ordinance."

Councils appropriated another piece of the Almshouse for a
station house for the Twenty-first Police District. This property
was on the angle formed by Spruce Street and Woodland Avenue at
Thirty -seventh Street. It contained in front on Woodland Avenue

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 293

i8o feet and 9^4 inches, and on Sprnce Street, 175 feet and 53^
inches.

In September, 1872, Councils, by resolution, appointed a joint
committee to consider the advisability of establishing a City Found-
ling Asylum, but nothing appears to have been done afterwards.

The Directors of the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf
and Dumb made application for the grant of six acres of the Alms-
house ground to erect buildings thereon, but no action was taken
upon the request, except to table it.

Council Committee on Retrenchment and Reform presented
the following report in June, 1873 :

" The Committee respectfully report that they have considered
a resolution of instruction to this Committee, to consider the pro-
priety^ of the transfer of the Almshouse to the House of Correc-
tion farm, cost of new buildings to accommodate the Almshouse
purposes, and what can be realized from the sale of the property
and buildings now occupied for Almshouse purposes, respectfully
report that they have carefully considered the subject, having
visited the grounds of the House of Correction in conjunction
with the Alanagers of the House of Correction and Guardians of
the Poor.

'' It is evident that the time has come when some site more
removed from the built up portions of the City should be selected
for an Almshouse, and other institutions of a like nature, and your
Committee is not aware of any other location so desirable as the
House of Correction grounds, in the Twenty-third Ward.

" Placing these institutions in one place will be both economi-
cal and convenient, and likewise efficient, bringing them under a
more direct and immediate supervision ; and if such institutions
deteriorate the value of property in their vicinit}'-, as has been
alleged, that deterioration has alread}^ taken place by the erection
of a House of Correction.

" If it should become necessary to procure more ground for
the Almshouse purposes, it could be procured cheaper in the
vicinity of the House of Correction than an3^where else, and by
placing these institutions there, it will protect the citizens with

204 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

their grounds, from deterioration in other localities. The Com-
mittee, therefore, submit the annexed Ordinance to provide for the
removal of the Almshouse, and recommend its passage."

The Ordinance provided for the removal of the Almshouse to
the House of Correction grounds, " as soon as suitable buildings
can be erected to accommodate its inmates, and the Chief Engineer
and Surveyor is hereby instructed to advertise for plans and speci-
fications for the building of a new Almshouse on said grounds,
said plans and specifications to be approved by Councils, and the
following premiums shall be paid : For the best plan, fifteen hun-
dred dollars ; second best plan, one thousand dollars, and third best
plan, five hundred dollars. And he is also hereby directed to lay
out in building lots of suitable size, all the present Almshouse
grounds, in the Twenty-seventh Ward, lying north and west of the
present Almshouse buildings, and submit plans to Councils."

The ordinance was passed by Common Council, but in the
Select Chamber it was referred to the Finance Committee and that
was the last of it.

The grounds and buildings would doubtless have brought
enough to have paid for the erection of new buildings, and thus
saved a large sum to the City, but for some reason that was not to
be accomplished.

CHAPTER XXVII.

COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE CHARGES OF MALADMINISTRATION
AND CORRUPT PRACTICES.

R. MARSHALL HENZEY tendered his resignation as

Steward on the 24th of February, 1873, after having

served in that capacity for a period of fifteen years.

]\Iajor Ellis P. Phipps, who in the morning resigned his

position as Chief Clerk in the U. S. Appraisers' Office, and in the

afternoon, as a member of the Board of Guardians of the Poor,

was unanimously elected to fill the vacancy.

An Ordinance was passed to appropriate a portion of the
Almshouse grounds, bounded by Pine Street, Woodland Avenue
and Thirty-sixth Street, to the Highway Department, to be. used as
a yard for storing material for the use of that department. It was
inclosed and a tool house erected.

A bill was passed by the Legislature to provide for the re-
moval of the Almshouse, Councils passed a resolution requesting
the Governor to withhold his signature from it, as " Councils were
moving in the matter to be accomplished.

The House of Correction, established principally to relieve
the Almshouse of the vagrants, was opened for admissions on the
15th day of January, 1874. At that time there were 4,597 inmates
in the Almshouse, according to the reports, 1,150 of whom were
classed as vagrants. At the end of the 3'ear the number dropped
to 3,972 with 421 vagrants.

It is interesting to note the great increase of expenditures at
about this time. In 1873, before the House of Correction was
started, the average population of the Almshouse was 4,069, and
the cost of maintenance was $444,929.04 ; in 1S74, with an average
population of 3,764, a decrease of 305, it required $529,513.26, an
increase of $84,584.22.

After one year's experience with the House of Correction, the
appropriations for 1875 were — for the Guardians of the Poor,
$529,408.62 and for the House of Correction, $378,298 — making a

295

296 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

total of $1,007,706.62, although the population of the Almshouse
had been reduced to 3,658. Included in the appropriation to the
Almshouse was an item of $50,000 to build five wooden pavilions
for the use of the Hospital and Insane Departments. They did
not remain long ; when they were removed brick buildings were
erected in their stead, much better, and at a cost of considerable
less than $10,000 each. The appropriations made at that time
were z'erj liberal.

A piece of the marsb land of the Almshouse property, em-
braced within the following lines : " Beginning at a point on the
eastern boundary of the said Almshouse property where the same
is intersected by the southwardly boundary line of the right of way
of the Junction Railroad (said point being 44 feet eastward of and
at right angles to the easterly line of Marsden Street, from a point
in the said easterly line six feet southward of the southerly line of
Thirt3^-first Street) ; thence southwardly along the several courses
of the said easterly boundary of the Almshouse property as afore-
said 507^1" feet, more or less to a point 40 feet southward of the
centre line of Thirtieth Street ; thence by and along the southerly
botindary line of the right of way of the branch railroad belonging
to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and between its main line
at Haverford Street and its Delaware extension to its intersection
with the easterly line of the right of way of the aforesaid Dela-
ware extension of the said Pennsylvania Railroad Company, a dis-
tance of 2,480^10 feet ; thence northeasterly along said easterly line
of the right of way of the Delaware extension of the Pennsylvania
Railroad, 847 feet, more or less, to the southerly boundary line of
the right of way of the Junction Railroad, i,524"ioo feet, more or
less, to the place of beginning ; containing in area Q^^yiooo acres,"
was sold at public sale by M. Thomas & Sons, Auctioneers, and
William Hasell Wilson bid $14,600 for it. The sale was confirmed.

Dissatisfaction with the management of the Almshouse was
manifested in the different bodies of citizens interested in charita-
ble work. Rumors of all kinds seemed to be in the air. At last a
number of petitions were sent to Councils, in which the signers
declared their belief that "great injur}- had resulted to the in-

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 297

terests of the City and to its poor from the appointment of persons
to be Guardians of the Poor who do not possess the proper qualifi-
cations for that office.

" We submit that the dictates of humanity and the important
financial interests involved in the care of the city's poor require
that certain important qualifications should be kept in view in
making these appointments.

"The Guardians should be men of sufficient leisure to give
ample and studious attention to the duties of the administration of
their department, and able and willing to respond promptly to the
duties assumed by them.

" They should be persons of high character, and free from
interested motives ; of known benevolence and experience in
charitable work ; men of large intelligence and capacity to study
practically the problems relating to the best treatment of the poor,
their employment, their physical and moral welfare, and their ele-
vation from pauperism.

" We earnest!}^ urge that such considerations shall primarily
govern the action of Councils in the appointment of the Guardians
of the Poor."

On December ist, 1881, Mr. J. L. Grim offered a resolution in
Common Council to appoint a Committee of five rhembers of that
chamber " to investigate as to the truth or falsity of the charges of
Maladministration and corrupt practices," and to enable the Com-
mittee to get at the facts, they were instructed to investigate the
entire management of the Almshouse and the Board of Guardians
of the Poor.

The resolution was adopted and Messrs. Grim, E. B. Morris,
S. S. Hollingsworth, A. A. Catanach and William Conway were
appointed as the Committee.

Another Ordinance was passed and approved on the 24th day
of Januar}', 1882, to sell and convej- to the Trustees of the Uni-
versity of Pennsylvania and their successors the following de-
scribed lots of land, being part of the Almshouse propert}', viz. :

" No. I. — All that certain lot or piece of ground situate in the
Twenty-seventh Ward of the City of Philadelphia, beginning at

298 History of Philadelphia Ahnshonses and Hospitals.

the northwest corner of Pine Street and Thirty-sixth Street, thence
extending westward along the north side of Pine Street, one thous-
and and seventy-three '^1,073) feet nine (9) inches to the south-
east side of Woodland Avenue, thence northeastward along the
same six hundred and twenty-six (626) feet nine and three-quarter
(9^) inches to the south side of Spruce Street, thence eastward
along the same five hundred and thirty-four (534) feet nine and
three-quarter (9)4) inches to the west side of Thirty-sixth Street,
and. thence southward along the same three hundred and twenty
(320) feet to the north side of Pine street and place of beginning.

" No. 2. — All that certain triangular lot or piece of ground
situate in the Twenty-seventh Ward of the City of Philadelphia,
beginning at the corner formed by the south side of Pine Street
and the northeast side of Cleveland Avenue, thence extending east-
ward along the south side of Pine Street nine hundred and ninety-
two (992) feet five and three-eighths (5fs) inches to the northwest
side of Guardian Avenue, thence southwestward along the same
seven hundred and eighty-six (786) feet five and three-eighths (5^)
inches to the northeast side of Cleveland Avenue, and thence north-
westward along the same six hundred and thirty-two (632) feet two
(2) inches to the south side of Pine Street and place of beginning,

" No. ^. — All that certain lot or piece of ground situate in the
Twenty-seventh Ward of the City of Philadelphia, beginning at
the corner formed by the south side of Pine Street and the south-
west side of Cleveland Avenue, thence extending southeastward
along the southwest side of Cleveland Avenue six hundred and
eighty (680) feet five and one-eighth (51^) inches to a a point, thence
southwestward along other ground of the City of Philadelphia one
hundred (100) feet and five-eighths {s/q) of an inch to ground of
the Woodland Cemetery, thence northwestward along the same
seven hundred and forty-one (741) feet eight and seven-eighths
{SVo) inches to the southeast side of Woodland Avenue, thence along
the same twenty-nine (29) feet seven and three-quarters (734) inches
to the south side of Pine Street, and thence along the same east-
ward eighty-nine (89) feet one and one-quarter (1%) inches to the
southwest side of Cleveland Avenue and place of beginning, reserv.

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 299

ing thereout a ground rent to the City of Philadelphia of five hun-
dred (500) dollars per annum, redeemable at any time by the pay-
ment to the City of the sum of ten thousand (10,000) dollars,
lawful money of the United States, to have and to hold the said
land to the said Trustees for the use of the said University of
Pennsylvania for its authorized educational purposes, and subject
to the following conditions, to wit :

" That the said Trustees of the said University of Pennsyl-
vania shall establish and forever maintain at least fifty (50) free
scholarships of an annual value of not less than seven thousand
five hundred (7,500) dollars per annum, to be awarded under such
conditions as may from time to time be deemed suitable to worthy
and deserving students of the Public Schools of Philadelphia :
And flirt Jier^ That they shall cause to be made and maintained, on
the line of Thirty-seventh Street, between Spruce and Pine Streets
on the first lot of said ground, a flagged footwalk, open at all times
to the public : And further^ That said land shall never be alienated
by the said Trustees without the consent of the City : And further^
That no buildings other than for educational purposes shall ever
be erected thereon : And further^ That if Cleveland Avenue should
be widened to a width of one hundred feet, the said Trustees will
•dedicate the land taken to public use."

Councils confirmed the sale of six and two hundred and ninety
seven thousandths acres, more or less, of meadow land sold at
public sale by M. Thomas & Sons, auctioneers, February 14th,
1882, to Henry K. Fox for the sum of eight thousand six hundred
(8,600) dollars cash, with a proviso " that the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company enter into an agreement that whenever the Citv
shall pass an Ordinance to that effect the said Company will build
and maintain a proper and suitable bridge over Thirtieth Street,
at the point where the said railroad now or may hereafter cross said
Thirtieth Street."

xA piece of land adjoining the grounds of William C. Allison,
ninety (90) feet wide on the east side of Thirtieth Street and ex-
tending eastwardly two hundred and ninety-five feet to the Port
Warden's line in the river Schuylkill, containing five hundred and

300 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

seventy-five thoiisaiidths ("'^riooo ) of an acre was sold at public sale
by the same auctioneers and on the same day. It was purchased
by William C. Allison for the sum of three thousand eight hun-
dred (3,800) dollars. The sale was confirmed.

Councils passed a resolution requesting the Trustees of the
University of Pennsylvania to inform them as to whether they had
complied with the provisions of the law of 1872, by which they
were to set aside fifty free beds and also requesting them to send
report at the next meeting and also in January next, in accordance
with the Act of May 18, 1872.

Dr. William Pepper, Provost of the University, sent reply
under date of June 14th, 1882, in which he said: " In reply to the
request to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania for infor-
mation respecting the University Hospital, I have the honor to
state :

" That the Trustees received from the State of Pennsylvania
$200,000, to be expended in the erection of a Hospital, upon condi-
tion that they would raise $350,000 additional, and that they would
maintain therein 200 beds, free, for all cases of recent accidents
occurring in the State of Pennsylvania : and further, that the Trus-
tees were allowed to purchase from the City of Philadelphia, for a
nominal sum, the lot of ground in West Philadelphia on which the
Hospital now stands, on condition that they would maintain therein
50 free beds for the use of the sick of this city.

" Whereupon, after careful study of the best plans of hospital
construction, the University Hospital was erected at a cost of
$285,000, and with a capacity of 120 beds.

" It had been hoped that the appropriation received from the
State would enable a Hospital containing 240 beds to be immedi-
ately erected ; but the very high prices of labor and material pre-
vailing in 1872-73, when the contracts were made, the cost of the
building consumed the State appropriation and $85,000 additional,,
which latter sum was contributed by private individuals.

" The plans of the University Hospital, however, provide for
a capacity of 500 beds, and it is the intention of the Trustees to>
complete the structure as soon as possible. During the present

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 301

season a new wing has been constructed, with a capacity of 80 or
90 beds, which will raise the total to above 200.

" In addition to $200,000 received from the State towards the
erection of the Hospital, the Trustees have received from private
individuals, for the establishment and maintenance of the Hospital,
more than $500,000, much of which is held as a special trust-fund
for the maintenance of free beds in said Hospital.

" The expense of maintaining the University Hospital has
been, from July 27, 1874, to June i, 1882, $203,180.93.

" The pledge given to the State has been liberally fulfilled,
since, from the day the doors of the Hospital were first opened,
every case of accident or surgical injurj^ brought to the Hospital
has been freely admitted. The number of free patients treated in
the Hospital in eight years has been 3,895, of whom about three-
fifths, or 2,300, have been residents of this City.

" At all times the ^o free beds pledged to the Cit}^ are avail-
able, and that number is frequently exceeded.

" The Trustees are conscious that there have been delays in
carrying forward the great undertaking of establishing a large and
fully-endowed Hospital, even as far as it has now progressed. But
they feel that all who are familiar with the difficulties will realize
that to have secured over $500,000 from private sources in nine
years ; to have erected and maintained a Hospital recognized as a
model of such an institution at a cost of $285,000 for construc-
tion, and over $25,000 per annum for maintenance, and in which
5,870 patients have been treated in its wards, and over 40,000
patients in its Dispensar}^ department, proves an energetic deter-
mination to comply with and to exceed all the pledges given to the
State and to the City. The above facts make this the more evident
when it is noted that the Acts of the Legislature and the Ordi-
nance of Council referred to do not fix any limit of time for the
fulfillment of these pledges."

The Provost had evidently overlooked or had forgotten the
fifth condition of the Ordinance which granted the ground. It
provided "That in the event of the failure to erect and complete
said hospital building within five years from the first day of Jul}-,

302 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

A. D. 1872, or upon said completion they shall refuse or neglect to
set apart and forever maintain at all times not less than 50 free

beds for the poor of the City shall be null and void, and

the tract or piece of land hereby authorized to be conveyed to them,
with the building or buildings thereon erected, shall revert to and
again become the property and estate of the City of Philadelphia."

CHAPTER XXVIII.

REPORT OF INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.

ON June i2tli, 1882, the special committee appointed to
investigate the management of the Almshouse made a
lengthy report, in which it appeared that more than 30
meetings were held for the examination of witnesses,
and that more than 90 had been heard. About 1,450 pages of type-
written testimony, apart from the exhibits, were taken. Some of
the Guardians, as well as the Superintendent, were represented by
counsel, and were permitted to call such witnesses as they desired.
The Committee reported :

" First. — We find that the S37stem of keeping accounts at the
Almshouse is one which affords no sufficient check upon pecula-
tion ; that it is so defective that those in control of the institution
or their chief subordinates can, if they so desire, rob the city to
almost any extent. An expert was employed to make an examina-
tion and he testified that they kept no commercial account books
there ; so much of a bill of goods as belonged to a particular item
is charged up against that item, without detailing the goods pur-
chased or their quantit3^ The}^ kept no accounts of the distribu-
tion of goods, and the only way in which they could tell, or claimed
to be able to tell, whether any specific article was exhausted, was
by finding it no longer in the storehouse. No one, he said, could
tell by the books, a month after entries were made, whether they
were correct or not.

" The Storekeeper testified that he never balanced his books,
and they were never audited.

" The man in charge of the manufacturing department testi-
fied that no invoice of stock had been taken for three 3'ears, and
that he could not do it without an invoice book ; and that the invoice
book had been taken from him b}^ a Committee of the Guardians.

" Mr. Huggard, a Guardian, testified that the mode of book-
keeping was defective, and that there was no way in which the
delivery of 900 pounds in place of 1000 pounds could be detected.

3C3

304 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

" A number ot witnesses were examined on the subjects of
food and clothing. The inmates all complained that the food was
insufficient and of bad quality, and poorly cooked. This evidence
was hardl}^ contradicted, except in a general way by the Superin-
tendent who said, ' there was nothing to complain of.'

" The flour inspector refused to pass some of the flour that
was intended for. tbe Almshouse, as it was unfit for human beings
to eat.

" It was shown that J. B. Myers (who was then a member of
Councils) furnished butter and eggs to the Almshouse worth from
one-half to two-thirds the price paid for them, and just that much
below the quality called for by the contract. W. W. Thompson
also furnished butter of the same qualit3^

'' IMore than fifty persons, who had furnished supplies, had
been subpoenaed but none of them would testify.

" A woman, w^ho had been chief nurse of the venereal ward,
testified that in 1881 her patients suffered with the cold ; that all
they had for breakfast was bread and coffee, without milk or sugar,
and only sometimes with butter ; that for supper the diet was the
same, except that tea was substituted for coffee. For dinner they
had soup and about as much meat as one would give to a twelve-
ye^r old child ; that they were without butter for three or four
months at a time ; that the bread was sour and bad ; that there
was no regular service of vegetables, and they had for the w^ard,
containing from 25 to 30 patients, an allowance of half-a-dozen eggs
per day.

" The story of the inmates was in its essential features cor-
roborated by Mr. Wells and Mr. Harrah, gentlemen w^ell-known in
the community, and of extensive experience and knowledge of the
management of public institutions.

" Mr. Wells said the food and clothing were insufficient, and
the qualit}' of the food injurious. Mr. Harrah found the bread in
the hospital sour, the babies bottles unwashed, and the institution
the worst managed that he had ever seen.

" The man in charge of the milkhouse testified that the milk
was skimmed before it was served, and the fresh milk was mixed

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 305

with the old milk, and often the whole made sonr ; and that
during the two years he was there he saw some of the inmates of
the Old Men's Department without bedding, and without under
clothes.

*' Most of the Guardians had very little to say about the food,
clothing and attendance. The President of the Board said he knew
nothing about bread, milk or beef, and had heard no complaints
about clothing. Mr. Orr said the butter was sometimes not up to
the standard, and the bread was sometimes sour. Mr. McAleer
had seen bad flour, which he had ordered sent back. Mr. Daly
said the tea and coffee ought to be better, and that the flour is
sometimes good and sometimes bad, and Mr. Huggard considered
the tea and coffee abominable, and the bread was sometimes sour."

The committee called attention to two facts which were not
disputed, both of which they considered was a disgrace to the
institution and all who had control of it. '' The cruelty permitted
towards old paupers and the insane, and the death of all found-
lings brought to the place is difiicult to write of with calmness.
It is in evidence and not disputed — indeed Matthew McNamara, a
witness called by the Guardians, testified that he was whipping
from eight to ten people a day, when he suddenly went to Ireland
in April, 1880, there being a great many complaints against him.
He said that his stick was his best friend, that it had a large nail
in the end of it.

" Richard Penn, a policeman, who in 1880 was an attendant in
the insane department, testified that he had seen a man named
Michael Houten, who was in charge of the sixth ward, frequently
knock down old insane people. He said he complained to Major
Phipps, but no improvement was made, and he (Penn) was finally
discharged for making complaints.

^' The death of all the foundlings brought into the children's
department was attempted to be accounted for by Dr. Montgomery
and the matron in charge on the theory that they were either so
drugged or diseased when they got them that they could not be
kept alive. The answer to this is the fact that when, in 1881, the
thirty survivors out of sixty-six were received by the Societj'' for
20

306 History of Philadelphia x\lmshouses and Hospitals.

Prevention of Cruelt}^ to Children, of those taken care of by the
Society not one died.

" The testimony of Mr. Crew, President of the Society, and
Mr. Harrah, who investigated this matter, is that the deaths of
these infants was due to ignorance and 7ieglcct.

" That such barbarous cruelty should be allowed in any civil-
ized community is almost incredible, and yet the Superintendent of
this institution and the President of the Board of Guardians find
nothing in regard to which they desire a change, unless it is in
the smallness of the appropriations.

" There can be no right feeling person in this community who
does not feel that he himself will in some degree be responsible
for the continuance of such outrages, and it is the earnest hope of
this committee that, whatever action Councils may take on this
report, they will at least take such measures as will render impos-
sible, in any of the institutions of this Cit}^, the beating of the
poor, the crippled and the afflicted, and the abandonment of help-
less infants to die for want of ordinar}^ care."

The committee urged the necessity of separating the hospital
from the Almshouse, using the argument that very few people are
willing to go there for treatment, feeling that it involves being
classed as a pauper, and it was recommended that the pauper
element be placed elsewhere, leaving the Almshouse buildings for
hospital purposes.

" The Committee found as a fact from the evidence, that the
appropriations made for the Guardians had been to some extent,
how far could not be stated, diverted from the purposes for which
they were made, and had not been strictly accounted for. War-
rants, signed by the President and Secretary of the Board, appear
to have been drawn for supplies which never reached the Alms-
house, or at least were never distributed there ; and also for
goods at a price higher than the market rate for the goods
delivered.

" The evidence showed that supplies were regularly taken from
the Almshouse and not accounted for.

" One of the offtcials received from six to twelve pounds of

H
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(J)
H
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XI
m

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 307

butter twice a week, made from the cream skimmed from the Alms-
house milk. He also took meat.

'' The receipts from the sale of empty packages, such as bar-
rels, boxes, etc., fell off from $1,182.67 i^^ '^^73 to $150 in 1879.
This could not be explained. The supplies were no less, or, to
speak more accurately, the supplies luhicJi are paid for are no less,
and presumably the packages in which they are contained are no
fewer. The market prices of the articles were not shown to be
lower. The only explanation of the shortage in the receipts is that
this property of the City is either given away or sold and the
proceeds not turned in.

"A Mr. Moore bid to furnish certain brushes at S128.40; he
did not get the contract. Shortly afterwards he sold similar goods
to Mr. Coyle, who was not in the business, who supplied them to
the Almshouse at an advance of $79.20 over Moore's bid.

''Jacob Schleigh was a produce dealer, he was a clerk for W. W.
Thompson when Thompson had a contract to furnish butter to the
Almshouse. The butter furnished was worth about two-thirds of the
contract sample ; it was delivered early in the year, and Schleigh
continued to ask for the warrant, without getting it until the ensu-
ing fall. Major Phipps was, written to several times about it.
Schleigh then went to the Controller's office, and found that the
warrant had been paid within four weeks after the delivery of the
butter. Schleigh then visited the office of the Guardians on
Seventh street, and was told that no warrant had come for him.
He related what he had learned at the Controller's office, and re-
ceived the money from the Penn National Bank, where two gentle-
men, one of them the Treasurer of the Board, had driven him for
that purpose. He was requested to not return to the Controller's,
and he did not.

"Controller Pattison testified that in February, 1882, Mr.
McFetrich, of the firm of Rocklean & McFetrich, called upon him
to see about getting the money for liquors supplied to the Alms-
house. It was discovered that the warrant, which w-as for $186.00,
had been paid in February, 1881. Mr. McFetrich then produced a
due bill given by Major Phipps for this amount, dated January

308 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

1882. Subsequently McFetricli and Phipps called together, and
the latter said that the warrant had been given to the wrong man
by mistake, and he had assumed the debt.

'' The foreman of the carpenter shop at the Almshouse testi-
fied that his wages for one month in 1S79 and for four months in
1S80 were not paid until January, 1881, when, after being impor-
tuned very often for payment, Major Phipps finally gave him an
order for the amount due him, on Frederick Sheeler, a grocer on
Market street, who supplied the institution with groceries. The
order was paid.

" An inventory was made by several experts of the carpets and
furniture in the institution, and when it was compared with the
books in the Controller's of&ce, which showed the amounts pur-
chased, there was found to be a deficiency of about 3,000 yards of
carpet, which had been entered as costing from 75 cents to $1.00
per yard.

" A schedule was prepared by an expert showing the amount
purchased and paid for by the city, and the amount consumed as
per the diet card allowance of tea, coffee, sugar and meat in the
year 1881 ; it showed a balance unaccounted for of 25.961 pounds
of tea, 258,452 pounds of coffee and rye mixed, 72,449 pounds of
sugar and 424,667 pounds of meat. The committee also had a
schedule showing the amount of flour purchased and paid for by
the city in 1865, when the population of the Almshouse was about
the same as during 188 1, which showed that while 4,296 barrels
were sufficient in 1865, it required 6,999 barrels in 18S1. The
amount of tea and coffee paid for shows that it required three
times as much tea and eight times as much coffee in 1881 as it did
in 1865.

" The Controller testified that an item under the head of
House receipts, representing money received at the Almshouse
from various sources, and which was payable into the City Treas-
ury monthly, had been omitted from the returns for the years 1876,
1877 and 1878. He wrote to the Treasurer of the Board of Guard-
ians and afterwards to the President, calling their attention to this
fact and asking explanation, but received none.

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 309

" He called the attention of Conncils to the fact and gave
notice that the money must be paid. This money was finally
recovered, amounting to $26,398.51, according to the account
presented, and paid to the City Treasurer. The explanation given
by Major Phipps and the President was that the appropriations fell
short for those years, and that the Guardians had authorized the
Superintendent to use the mone}^ for the ordinary needs of the
house. Major Phipps presented to the Controller receipts purport-
ing to show that he had paid the monej' monthl}^ to Mr. Lane, the
Treasurer of the Board.

" Mr. Lane testified that he never received any portion of the
money until immediate!}^ prior to his settlement with the Con-
troller in June, 1879. Mr. Lane stated that in 1876 the appropria-
tion ran short, and that the Board of Guardians gave its sanction
to an arrangement by which certain contractors were to supply the
goods required, and take their chances of getting their bills paid
by Councils. That Councils refused to make an appropriation for
this purpose, and that Major Phipps, with the knowledge of the
Guardians appropriated the House receipts for the payment of
these claims, and that when the Controller insisted upon the money
being paid into the City Treasur3% Phipps induced the contractors
Mathews and Toy to return the money ; that it w^as then for the
first time handed to Mr. Lane, who at once paid it into the City
Treasury. No ofiicial action of the Board was shown in relation
to the misappropriation of this large amount of money, but unfor-
tunately for the explanation given the annual reports of the Board
show that the appropriations for the A-ears mentioned' <■//</ not run
short, as there was an unexpended balance on December 31st, 1876,
of $1,773.19 and on December 31st, 1877, there remained to their
credit $1,344.96.

'" The evidence, in the opinion of the Committee, established
these facts :

" I. Goods have been furnished the Almshouse of a quality
from 33 to 50 per cent, less in value than the contract samples.

" 2. Goods have been paid for as furnished which have never
been delivered.

310 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

'' 3. Goods which had been delivered had been taken away and
not accounted for.

"4. Warrants have been collected by others than those to
whom they belonged, and the money retained until a settlement
could no longer be delayed.

" 5. It would seem, though the fact is only shown in a single
case, that Major Phipp's obligations were held by contractors
whose warrants were overdue, and had been collected but not by
themselves.

"These facts not only justify the finding of the Committee
but make any other finding impossible. There is no evidence to
show that any of the Guardians in any way participated in the
misappropriation of the funds which should have gone to support
the Almshouse.

" The retention of the House receipts by the Superintendent
for the years 1876-7-S was sanctioned by Mr. Chambers and ac-
quiesced in by Messrs. Gill and Orr. The explanation given, that
it was necessary to meet the expenses of the house, appears to be
untrue. In view of the failure of these gentlemen to give any
further explanation, the Committee recommends that they be re-
quested to resign. Mr. Stewart and Mr. Keyser having been at
the institution but a short time, the Committee have no positive
fault to find with them. The remaining Guardians, except Mr-
Jarden who has just been elected, and Messrs. Huggard and Daly,
do not seem to properly understand the responsibilities of their
positions. They have seen that the inmates of the ^Almshouse
were neither properly fed, clothed, nor cared for ; or if they have
not they ought to have done so, and yet they have taken no steps
to rectify those abuses.

" The Committee would feel it their duty to include Mr. Daly
also in this criticism had he not wakened up, even at the last
moment, and been very zealous in assisting the Committee in their
investigation. These gentlemen, with exceptions already men-
tioned, have in the opinion of the Committee, all been too indolent
and. careless in attending to the duties of their position to be re-
tained there, and the Committee recommend that the}^ are, with the

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 311

exception of Messrs. Jarden, Dal 3^, Stewart, Keyser and Huggard,
requested to resign.

" Over Major Phipps, Councils have no control. He is not
elected by them, and is not responsible directly to them. It is
eminently proper, however, for them to make a recommendation in
regard to him to the Board of Guardians.

" The Committee appreciate all that has been said by the
medical staff of the Almshouse about Major Phipps' executive
ability, but they are of opinion that the facts developed before
them, in regard to his relations with the contractors, his outstand-
ing notes held b}' them, the delaj^s in paying people for whom war-
rants had been cashed without their knowledge, his failure to
correct abuses of which he could not be ignorant, demand impera-
tively that he should no longer be retained in the position he now
occupies, and they therefore recommend his dismissal."

"The Committee submit herewith a joint resolution, embody-
ing their recommendations, together with the testimony.''

(Signed) John L. Grim, Cha{r7nan.

S. S. HOLLINGS WORTH,

A. J. Maloney,
Effingham B. MorrIvS,
Adam A. Catanach.

Mr. Maloney had been substituted for Air. Conway, that gen-
tleman having retired from Councils.

Mr. McAleer, one of the Guardians, sent a communication to
Councils requesting that the report, so far as it related to him?
should be returned to the Committee, in order that he might have
the opportunit}'- of proving that he had performed his duty as a
member of the Board. He said in part :

" It is true that I was unable to attend to my duties for a
length of time by sickness, 3'et this was my misfortune, and not
my fault. As no man charges me with an}'- sin of commission or
an}?- sin of omission, I think it hardly fair that an}- reflection
should be cast on my character."

Upon the adoption of the report and resolution of the Com-

312 History of Philadelphia Almshbuses and Hospitals.

mittee, the name of Mr. MciVleer was added to those to be ex-
cepted from the request to resign.

At this meeting an election took place for four Guardians to fill
vacancies caused by the expiration of the terms of four of the old
Board. Messrs. Edward F. Hoffman, John Ruhl, Lucien Moss
and William McAleer were chosen.

During the term of Major Phipps the title of his position was
changed from that of Steward to Superintendent, and the powers
were considerably enlarged.

Councils took the usual summer recess, commencing June 19th.

CHAPTER XXIX.

TRAINING vSCHOOL FOR NURvSES EvSTABI.ISHED— TERRIBLE EIRE IX
INSANE DEPARTMENT— vSUPERINTEXDENT PIIIPPS ARRESTIT).

A CONFERENCE was held by the new and some of the older
members of the Board of Guardians, and, after consider-
able discussion, in order not to appear as beiijg hasty or
harsh, a committee of three was appointed to wait on the
Superintendent to request and advise his resignation, the same to
take effect on September ist, 1882. After some consideration he
sent a communication dated July 3d, in which he said :

" Gentlemen — In compliance with the desire of the members
•of the Board of Guardians of the Poor, expressed at the conference
held on ist inst., I hereby tender my resignation to take effect as
requested."

During the interval the Committee of One Hundred, citizens
•organized to procure better municipal government, were busy in
procuring sufficient evidence to enter a criminal suit against
him.

Mr. Morris M. Mathews made affidavit that on or about Janu-
ary ist, 1882, and within nine months last past, that " said Ellis
P. Phipps had defrauded the cit}^ of a large sum of monev, to wit,
over $5,000; that he obtained the money, and also that he had con-
spired with others to defraud the city of large sums of nione3% and
that he had obtained and assisted others to obtain fraudulentl}- and
keep the money of the city." He also swore that Phipps had
drawn warrants in pa3nnent for goods which had never been de-
livered, and the money had been obtained on these warrants.

Mr. Mathews confessed that he had presented bills during the
first three months of this year for goods to the amount of $7,200,
^11 of which, with the exception of one for $549.94, were fictitious,
yet upon which warrants were drawn by Major Phipps, who also
-drew the money.

Upon the strength of this affidavit a warrant was issued and
Phipps was arrested on September ist, on the charge of embezzle-

314 Histon' of Philadelphia Ahnshouses and Hospitals.

nient. He was placed under $5,000 bail for a hearing, W. Elwood
Rowan, a member of Common Council, becoming his bondsman.

Before the time set for the hearing he absconded and his bail
was declared forfeited. A new warrant was issued, a description of
him was sent to all of the police stations and orders for his arrest
were transmitted.

A search was made of the house No. 3419 Walnut street,
which he occupied, where large quantities of all kinds of provisions,
dry goods and notions, taken from the Almshouse, were found
secreted in the cellar and locked in closets in the rooms. The
value of the goods recovered was estimated at $5,000. In addition
it was discovered that he owed to subordinates, whose wages he
had retained, amounts running up into hundreds of dollars. He
also retained the House receipts of July and August, amounting
to $1,500, and for which a demand had been made upon him a few
days before his departure. A number of promissory notes, amount-
ing to about $200,000 were found. They were dated in 1880 and

1 88 1. Some of them had been cancelled, and were in the names
of prominent politicians and contractors.

Major Phipps was apprehended on the i8th day of September,,

1882, in Hamilton, Ontario. Upon being fully identified he was
remanded. It was necessary to have extraditien papers from the
President of the United States to the Canadian government before
he could be brought back to this city, and to obtain this object
charges of felony would have to be established. District Attorney
Graham took the matter in hand ; witnesses were sent before the
Grand Jury, and when they had been examined, three bills of in-
dictment were found, charging Phipps with fraudulently making
an instrument of writing and uttering and publishing the same-
This constitutes forgery.

There were several counts contained in each bill. The first
charged that he, Phipps, had forged the name of \V. L. Alurph}^
to a receipt for a warrant for $389 ; the others charged the forgery
of receipts for warrants in the names of A. J. Bellows & Co. for
$377.80, and Seeds & Ferguson for $595. These warrants were
all paid by the City Treasurer.

History of Philadelphia Alinshonses and Hospitals. 315

The President issued the necessary papers, Air. Graham took
them to Canada and after a long delay Phipps was surrendered,
brought to this City, tried, convicted, sentenced, and served a long
term of imprisonment.

Major Thomas B. Scarborough had been elected Superinten-
dent and took charge of the Almshouse on the ist of September.
Several of the employees of the institution were arrested, tried and
convicted on the charges of larceny and conspiracy to defraud the
City.

At the first meeting of Councils after the recess, Messrs.
Lane, Gill and Spering tendered their resignations as members of
the Board, Messrs. Joseph Paxson, William R. Chapman and
Mark Balderston were elected in their stead.

The Board then consisted of Messrs. Jarden, Daly, Huggard,
Stewart, Ruhl, Keyser, Hoffman, Moss, McAleer, Paxson, Chap-
man and Balderston. It was organized by the election of Mr. John
Huggard as President and Robert C Floyd as Secretar3\

Mr. Jarden resigned on November i6th, and General Louis
Wagner was elected to fill the vacancy.

President Huggard, in his report at the end of the 3^ear, said
in part : " For reasons that are obvious and need no explanation
the report for the first half of the year is — with the exception of
that portion relating to the Hospital for the Insane — somewhat
incomplete, but the facts have been arrived at as nearly as possible.
Upon the showing of the last half of the year I congratulate the
Board."

The new Superintendent said : " On assuming the duties of
the institution, I need hardly remind you of the disorder and con-
fusion which characterized some of its departments. Although ni}-
predecessor turned over no papers or books pertaining to the duties
of the office, I have nevertheless, with your assistance, been able to
appreciate to a certain degree its wants."

An item was inserted in the appropriations for the j-ear 1883,
to pay $555 to the paupers to repay the amounts belonging to them
which had been taken by the late Superintendent.

On January 4th, 1883, Mr. Balderston resigned from the

31<i History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

Board, and Dr. W. H. Zeigler was elected to fill the vacancy. Mr.
Moss resigned on March 8th, and Mr. Richard C. McMurtrie was
elected in his stead.

Messrs. Paxson, Chapman, Zeigler and Daly were re-elected
in June. The Board was re-organized by the election of Mr.
Hoffman as President and Mr. Floyd as Secretary. Mr. George
H. Smith \Y2LS elected Superintendent.

Two Acts which had an important bearing upon the manage-
ment of the Almshouse were passed by the Legislature and
approved June 13th, 1883.

One of them provided that children over two years of age
should not be kept in the Almshouses of this State for a longer
period than sixty days, unless they were under medical treatment.
It also provided for their maintenance in homes, the expenses to be
borne by the municipalities in which they belonged.

This was intended to be of great benefit ; it removed the chil-
dren from the Almshouse surroundings and saved them from the
taint of pauperism. It gave them the advantages of home care
and treatment, thus fitting them to become useful, self-supporting
men or women.

Councils appropriated $8,000 for the first year to " pay for the
maintenance of the children sent to the various homes," in accord-
ance with the Act. The number of children under the care of the
department bas so increased, since that time, that it now requires
$20,000 per annum for that purpose.

The other Act was to provide for the surrender of the bodies
of those who died in the Almshouse, etc., to the Anatomical Board
for dissection.

After describing the method of forming the Board and provid-
ing for its appointment and duties, the Act sets forth :

" All public officers, agents and servants, and all officers,
agents and servants of any and every county, city, township,
borough, district and other municipality, and of any and every
Almshouse, prison, morgue, hospital, or other public institution
having charge or control over dead human bodies, required to be
buried at the public expense, are hereby required to notify the said

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 317

Board of distribution or such person or persons as may, from time
to time, be designated by said Board or its duly authorized agent,
whenever any such body or bodies come to his or their possession,
charge or control, and shall, without fee or reward, deliver such
body or bodies, and permit or suffer the said Board, or its agents,
and the Phj^sicians and Surgeons from time to time designated by
them, who may comply with the provisions of this Act, to take and
remove all such bodies, to be used within this State for the ad-
vancement of medical science ; but no such notice need be given,
nor shall any such bod}^ be delivered, if any person claiming to be,
and shall satisfy the authorities in charge of said body, that he or
she is of kindred, or is related by marriage to the deceased, shall
claim the said body for burial, but it shall be surrendered for inter-
ment ; nor shall notice be given or body delivered, if such deceased
person was a traveller who died suddenly, in which case the body
shall be buried."

The Act provided for the distribution of bodies among the
schools, colleges, etc., and required that bonds should be entered as
a guarantee that the bodies should be used for scientific purposes
only. A penalty was provided for the punishment of any person
convicted of buying or selling bodies.

This Act put a stop to "body-snatching," "resurrecting" and
" trafi&c in bodies," subjects that had caused much discussion and
scandal in previous years, and had caused the Guardians to be des-
ignated as the " Board of Buzzards." Since the passage of the bill
the Almshouse authorities have not buried any of the paupers
who have died. Those poor persons who died in homes in the cit}''
and had no friends who were willing or able to pay funeral
expenses, have been buried in an humble manner by an undertaker
employed for the purpose by the Guardians of the Poor.

An ordinance of Councils was approved on the 6th day of
July, 1883, which ordained " That all the Almshouse property- in
West Philadelphia, bounded by South Street, Spruce Street, Thirt}--
fourth Street, Vintage Avenue, on to the southern boundary of the
city property, and thereto to the Schuylkill River, and the Schuyl-
kill River, be and is hereb}^ set apart for the purpose of being

318 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

improved for the health and public welfare of the citizens of
Philadelphia."

It provided for the appointment of two laborers to level the
ashes, etc., that might be placed on the marshy part of the grounds
so that it might be filled up to a proper level to the Port Ward-
en's line. Citizens were authorized to dump ashes, etc., on the
grounds.

This ordinance embraced all of the property south of Spruce
Street that was not inclosed for the Almshouse buildings. It took
in the grounds upon which stood the Children's Asylum, the
stables and carriage houses, the farmer's and weigher's houses
and the graveyard, in which the remains of hundreds are
deposited.

On January 31st, 1884, General Wagner resigned from the
Board, and Dr. Thomas Biddle was elected to fill the vacancy.

At the annual election in June, 1884, Messrs. Huggard, Stew-
art and Biddle were re-elected, and Mr. J. W. Durham took the
place of Mr. Keyser. Mr. George H. Smith was elected Superin-
tendent.

The office of Chief Nurse in the Hospital was created, and
$800 were appropriated to pay her salary. On July 28, 1884, Pres-
ident Hoffman stated that for some time past efforts had been made
to find a suitable person for head nurse of the proposed training
school. Mr. George W. Childs and Mr. Anthou}^ J. Drexel, having
interested themselves in the matter, had submitted the name of
Miss Alice Fisher, and she was selected.

In 1885 the salar}^ was increased to $1,000, and in 1886 an
assistant was provided for at a salary of $600 per annum. This
was the official commencement of what has since been termed the
" Training School for Nurses of the Philadelphia Hospital." Prior
to that time the nursing was done principally by the inmates, and
this movement was intended to introduce a different character of
persons to perform that dut}^.

Young women and girls, who desired to become proficient in
that line and who possessed the necessary qualifications, were
employed at a small salary and placed under the direction of com-

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 819

petent, practical teachers for a term of two, but subsequently
changed to three years, during which time the}^ had experience in
all of the wards of the institution.

Miss Alice Fisher, a lady of much ability and of long experi-
ence in hospital work in England, was the first chief nurse and the
organizer of the system. She served in that position until the
time of her death, June 3d, 1888, when Miss Clarion E. Smith, a
graduate of the school, succeeded to the position. Miss Edith
Horner, who is now the wife of United States Senator Hawley, was
the first assistant. The school was started with about one dozen
pupils, and from that small number it has increased until ' now
there are more than a hundred attending the course.

The portion of the main hospital building that had formerl}^
been occupied by the children was remodeled and repaired for a
home for the nurses. Reception and class rooms were provided
for them, and ward rooms were divided into sleeping apart-
ments.

The old school room was fitted up for the Apothecary Store.

A new maternity building was erected on the ground where
one of the old nervous pavillions had stood. It was finished in the
latter part of the year.

One of the saddest calamities that had ever visited the Alms-
house was the fire that occurred on the night of Februarv I2tli,
1885.

The main building of the Insane Department was entirel}^
burned out, and nineteen of the poor patients lost their lives. It
caused great distress, as there was no part of the institution where
the homeless ones could be cared for. The Penns3dvania Railroad
Company generousl}^ offered the use of the vacant depot at Thirt}'-
second and Market Streets as a temporary asylum. It was accepted
until arrangements could be made to send some of the patients to
the State Hospitals.

Councils instructed the committee to make a thorough investi-
gation of the origin of the fire and the conduct of the officials pre-
vious to the fire and at the time. The Committee submitted the
following interesting report :

320 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

'' To iJic Select and Co mm on Councils

of the City of Philadelphia :
''The Committee on Prisons, etc., which was directed to make a
full and thorough investigation of all matters relating to the
late fire at the Almshouse grounds, etc., b}^ Resolution passed
by your Honorable Bodies, Februar}' 19, 1885 (Appendix of
Select Council, No. 84), respectfull}^ report :
" That at a meeting held on February 22, 1885, and at various
adjourned meetings thereafter, it examined a number of the Guard-
ians of the Poor, and officers and employees of the institution, in
reference to the matters contained in said resolutions. Directly
after your Committee were instructed, as aforesaid, and before its
first meeting, the Coroner made an investigation of the fire, and
his jury, after listening to the evidence produced before it, found a
verdict implicating one of the inmates and two of the employees
who were thereupon bound over for trial and are now confined in
the count}^ prison. A majority of the members of your commit-
tee, while not in any wise adopting or rejecting the above verdict
as the true solution of the m^-stery, deem it inexpedient to inter-
fere with the course of justice which would, in an orderly manner,
develop through the Courts an explanation more valuable than any
this committee could secure by further examination of the alleged
perpetrators of this terrible crime, and consequently it was deter-
mined to proceed no further in that direction. The investigation
of the origin of the fire being unnecessary, the carrying out of the
remainder of your instructions was expected to be rather perfunc-
tory in its character, but the statements of the Guardians, concern-
ing the management of affairs at Blockley, displayed such a want
of harmony among themselves, and such an entire absence of at-
tention to important details, that your Committee would fail in its
duty if it did not comment thereon and draw your serious attention
thereto.

Your Committee were surprised to find that no arrange-
ments of any kind had been made for the prevention or suppression
of fire in the Insane Asylum, which contained over six hundred
male and female patients. The building was three stories high.

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 321

some seven hundred feet long, and about seventy-five feet deep. It
was in shape a parallelogram, with wings at each end. The fire
took place on Thursday, February 12, 1885, about eight o'clock p. m.
It was discovered a few minutes after eight, and may have been
smouldering some time. A mulatto boy, or man, named Naudine,
shouted the alarm, and two attendants, who were a short distance
away, hearing him, ran to the drying room, on the first floor, where
they found the flames had made some headway. Without any ap-
pliances to extinguish or control the fire, the only resource was to
assist the inmates to escape. There was not even a fire-alarm box
on the premises, so that the building was a roaring furnace by the
time the firemen arrived, and the difBculties of rescuing the un-
fortunates can hardly be exaggerated. Under the circumstances,
it is remarkable that only nineteen of the inmates were burned up.
The courage and energ}^ of the firemen, assisted by the officers and
emplo3'ees of the institution, alone prevented a greater destruction
of life.

" The fire completely gutted the main building, leaving noth-
ing but the walls and the fire-escapes ; but the wings, at either
end, were only partially damaged, and are already almost entirel}*
restored. They will certainly be ready for occupancy in a few days.

'' In June, 1883, Councils provided the sum of $20,000 for
erecting these fire-escapes, which consist of outside fire-proof stair-
cases, and are attached also to the other buildings at Blockle}'.
In the wreck of the Insane Asylum these staircases remained
wholly uninjured, demonstrating their value at such times, and
assisting in the saving of life.

" After the erection of these escapes there remained a balance
of $1,490.20; and it is to be regretted that, with the subject before
them, the Guardians did not purchase with this money some of the
many modern chemical apparatus for use at fires inside the build-
ing. A transfer for this purpose was readily obtainable. A short
time before the sad event the Board of Guardians had directed three
members of the medical staff to make an examination of the build-
ing occupied by the insane, and report thereon. This report, dated
January 30, 1885, called the attention of the Board to a number of
21

322 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

needed reforms in this department, and most particularly to the
want of the proper provisions in case of fire, warning the members
that should it occur ' a large proportion of the inmates would be
burned to death.' These gentlemen say, ' there is not a fire-plug,
a foot of hose, or a fire-extinguisher in the whole building; and
in the upper stories there is no certain supply of water. They
respectfully suggested changes and improvements in these respects,
that were being considered by the Hospital Committee, but had not
yet been acted upon at the time of the disaster.

" Before the receipt of this report the idea of fire seems never
to have occurred to any member of the Board. The hospital and
the out-wards, where the paupers are kept, containing some 2,500
persons in addition to the insane, were equally defenceless against
that element.

" This oversight arose, no doubt from the general belief that
such precautions had been taken. No one imagined the danger;
each member elected to the Board, if the subject occurred to him
at all, assumed that the buildings were perfectly provided, and
troubled himself no more about the matter. What was everybody's
business was nobody's. So far as your Committee could learn,
there never had been, at any time in the history of the Almshouse,
any provisions for security from or for the extinguishment of fire.
At present each floor of the building is provided with chemical
extinguishers. A fire-alarm box is located on the premises, and
attachments will soon be made to secure a better water supply.
The buildings now are ordinarily safe from fire.

"Your Committee cannot leave this branch of the investigation
without alluding to the effort which was made to place the respon-
sibility for this fire upon your Honorable Bodies. The present
investigation has shown this to be entirely unsupported by any
evidence whatever. In the first horrors of the occasion, inuendoes
and statements were made, from what source exactly your Commit-
tee was unable to discover, suggesting that the disaster was the
result of some economies of the public money upon your part.
Among other more indefinite assertions to support this, it was
stated that two watchmen for the asylum were refused by the

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 323

Finance Committee ; the inference being intended that, had they
been granted — and this is suggested in a communication, signed by
the members of the Board, to Councils of February 19, 1885 (Com-
mon Council Appendix, No. 251) — the fire would have been pre-
vented. In the first place, they would have been useless without
any means of extinguishing the fire ; and, secondly, they were
never requested. The application which was thus distorted into
two watchmen for the insane asylum was actually for two police-
men to guard the grounds, and particularly to prevent the inmates
from passing their clothes and other articles through or over the
fence to outsiders ; and the men, if allowed, could therefore have
been of no service whatever in preventing or extinguishing the
fire.

'' It was also asserted that the property at Blockley could have
been sold for sufficient to put up new buildings, with modern im-
provements, etc., and leave a handsome surplus in the treasury ;
and that, therefore, Councils were responsible for the burning of
the present tinder-box. The entire tract at the Almshouse being
only sixteen acres, w^orth probably eight or ten thousand dollars
an acre, the absurdity of this is apparent, even if such remote
responsibilit}^ was not otherwise ridiculous.

" It was next insinuated that a better water suppl}^ would have
aided in reducing the flames. This is undoubtedl}^ true ; and had
the Guardians made attachments to the six-inch mains that com-
pletely surround Blockley, it could have been obtained ; but it
seems they did not know these mains were laid.

" These are suf&cient as specimens, and it is unnecessary to
allude to au}^ more of these attempts to put responsibility for this
disaster on innocent shoulders. It suffices to say, that no request
of the Guardians for the protection of the lives and propert}- en-
trusted to their charge has been refused by Cit}^ Councils, and that
three hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, divided, as sug-
gested by the Guardians themselves, was allowed for the expenses
of the current year.

" The insight obtained by 3^our Committee into the manner of
government of the institutions at Blockley was not gratifj-ing.

324 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

The character of the gentlemen constituting the Board is such that
it is unnecessary to say that nothing affecting their integrity is
suggested by this statement ; but it cannot be denied that the effi-
ciency of the body is greatly, if not totally, impaired by constant
bickerings and an utter want of united action in any direction.
The President of the Board, Mr. Edward Hoffman, frankly stated
to your Committee that this was so, and, in his opinion, was caused
b}^ the struggle among the members for the patronage appertaining
to the position ; that is to say, the appointment of the numerous
attendants, nurses, etc., required in the immense establishments.
He presented a list of appointees in the Insane Asj^lum, and it was
evident that politics had more to do with the appointments than
fitness for office. Where the patronage was not retained by the
members, it appeared to have been traded off for the support of mea-
sures of administration desired by the assignor of the patronage.
That the appointments were the great lever and the chief cause of
dissension was apparent, without the statement to that effect of the
President. The report of the medical officers, before alluded to,
says, with reference to the ability of the appointees, what would
naturally be expected from such a system, 'The character and
general fitness of the nurses is very low as a rule.' The list pre-
sented to your Committee by the President shows that painters,
gardeners, car conductors, stablemen, laborers, sailors, and such
like, were appointed nurses and attendants upon the insane, without
any method of determining their qualifications. Your Committee
respectfully recommend that this system be abolished, and here-
after fitness and character be made the sole test.

" Another weakness in the management your Committee deem
it proper to suggest should be corrected ; and that is the want of
absolute authority in the heads of the departments. The report of
the physicians speaks very strongly, but not too much so, upon
this subject. In reference to the Physician-in-Chief of the Insane
Asylum it says, ' All attendant nurses are appointed by the Com-
mittee on the Insane Hospital, and no matter how grave may be
their offences — if they be drunk, brutal, or absent without leave, they
are not removable by the physicians without a hearing before the

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. -Vl')

Committee. A system wliicli puts an end to all possibility of exact
and reasonable discipline. This SA'stem stands alone in this Com-
monwealth in this hospital, and would be laughable were it not too
serious for mirth. The Physician-in-Chief of the insane and the
Superintendent of the Almshouse should have power to dismiss or
punish any subordinate promptly, without any appeal, reporting
the same at once to the Board.

" Dr. Bennett, of the Norristown Insane Hospital, ver}^ prop-
erly said, ' The most unworthy attendants are those who are apt to
try to appeal to the Trustees, and if the latter listened to their
stories we would be involved in endless complications, and my
authority and discipline would be greatly weakened.'

" The management of the pauper establishments is, however,
entirely vested by law in the Guardians of the Poor, who have
complete jurisdiction and control ; Councils being confined to elect-
ing four of these gentlemen every year, one of whom shall belong
to the minority, and appropriating the money for the maintenance
thereof; but the present members have always manifested such
deference to the wishes of your Honorable Bodies, and the desire to
promote the interests of the institution, that an}^ suggestions that
are appropriate and useful will be cheerfull}^ accepted and carefull}^
considered. The office of Guardian is no sinecure. It requires
conscientious attention and thought. Experience is almost a ne-
cessity to the proper performance of its duties. The gentlemen
Avho are willing to make the necessary sacrifices to hold the place
should receive the support of Councils, and be retained as long as
pos.sible. This Committee has endeavored, during the Council-
manic year now ending, to sustain the Board in the reforms which
it undoubtedl}^ has accomplished ; and can say that while obliged,
as you have seen, to criticise parts of the management, it recog-
nizes that there has been an endeavor, on the part of the members,
to promote the general welfare of the inmates and administer its
affairs honestly and economically. With a mutual disposition all
around to surrender personal prejudices and unite their differences,
the present Board would secure admirable results.

"The resolutions adopted by your Honorable Bodies further

326 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

direct your Committee to report ' the demands of and appropria-
tions to the Guardians of the Poor for the past five years, and the
expenditures of the same.' A statement showing the above has
been obtained and is herewith annexed.

" All of which is respectfully submitted.

"John J. Ridgway, Jr., CJiairmmiP

Appropriations. Expenditures.

1880 $405,476 00 $405,402 63

1881 436,976 95 436,093 90

1882 422,118 00 406,317 57

1883 386,304 00 365,401 56

1884 344,613 00 336,346 20

CHAPTER XXX.

BULLITT BILL GOES INTO EFFECT— CHANGE IN MANAGEMENT.

SHORTLY after the fire the effort to remove the pauper ele-
ment of the Almshouse to another location was renewed.
Petitions were circulated by the medical fraternity to obtain
signatures of those in favor of it.
In compliance with a resolution, the Clerk of Common Coun-
cil advertised for proposals for a tract of land in the City of Phila-
delphia, suitable for the purpose, price not to exceed $500 per acre,
and tract to contain not less than 25 acres.

In compliance therewith, the following offers were received,
viz :

From.

T. P. Smart .
John Hennig .
Joseph C. Moore
James Clark .
Edwin Martin
David M. Hess
Jon'n Rowland
George S. Clark
John Arthur .
Mrs. Glackin .
Dilworth Wentz
E. C. Chesebrough
Harrison Farm .
E. V. Lansdale .

No. of Acres. Price per Acre.

25 $473 00

not stated 400 00

34 475 00

25 400 00

4i^'?/ioo 238 72

32 •

75 •

'12^'io

73 •

500 00

225 00

250 00

350 00

67 300 GO

50 500 CO

190 400 CO

156 ... , 500 00

ICO 500 00

President Hoffman, under date of May 9th, 1885, sent the fol-
lowing communication to Councils :

^''Gentlemen — I respectfully tender my resignation as a Guard-
ian of the Poor, to take effect forthwith.

" It is in the best interests of the instittition that my place as
President and member of the Board should be at once filled by a
gentleman who commands the support of your body."

The resignation was accepted, and Mr. Thomas S. Keyser was

elected to fill the vacancy on the Board.

327

328 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

Mr. Joseph Paxson was subsequently chosen for President.
Dr. Philip Leidy was selected for Physician-in-Chief of the insane
department.

The Councils Committee on Prisons was " requested to con-
sider and report on the propriety of re-building the burned portion
of the insane department at Blockle}^"

The Committee made report on May 28th, 1885, in which it
was stated :

" The Board of Guardians of the Poor are unanimously of the
opinion that they should be rebuilt on the present site, and this
viev/ is indorsed by your committee for the following reasons :

^'' First. The old walls now standing are worth between $30,000
and $40,000, which will be lost to the city if these buildings are
erected elsewhere.

''"Second. There are now about 240 insane patients in the por-
tion of the building not touched by the late fire, who overcrowd the
same, and in the event of a similar casualty, the same appalling
result might happen as upon the prior occasion.

''''Third. It is asserted that the State insane asylums are now
full, and therefore the patients now remaining at Blockley cannot
be removed to said asylums. The Norristown Asylum in particu-
lar is very much crowded.

^^ Fourth. While your Committee believe that the State should
erect an insane asylum in Philadelphia, of sufficient size to accom-
modate and properly care for her insane citizens, inasmuch as Phil-
adelphia pays into the State Treasury two-fifths of its entire
receipts ; yet, should the State authorities coincide with this view,
it would be impossible to accomplish the said object by securing
the proper legislation, the awarding of contracts and the erection of
such buildings in a less period than four or five years, and in the
meantime the insane poor of our city would be deprived of that
care and treatment which is expected from a Christian community.

''''Fifth. — There was an insurance of $iopoo upon the burnt
building, which sum is now available, and which, together with the
sum of $25,000, will rebuild these buildings and make them thor-
oughly fire proof and capable of accommodating 600 patients.

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 329

" Si.v/h. — The hospital facilities of Philadelphia are inadequate
for the City's needs in case of an epidemic, and these buildings
proposed to be rebuilt would be of great value for such purposes, if
at any time hereafter other accommodations for the insane should
be secured.

" The Board of Guardians of the Poor have had plans pre-
pared for the rebuilding of these buildings, which they have
unanimously approved, and which your Committee have also ap-
proved, and recommend their adoption."

The subject was referred to the Joint Committee on Finance
and Prison. Upon their report Councils approved the plans pre-
pared by Wilson Brothers & Co., and the work was ordered to be
done.

Before the fire these buildings were three stories in height,
the same as the other three, but when they were rebuilt only the
centre portion was made that high, the extensions on each side of
the centre being only carried up two stories.

On the first floor in the centre are located the physicians'
ofiices and the reception rooms of the patients and their friends ;
the assistant physicians' sleeping rooms and the sewing rooms are
on the second floor, while the third floor was fitted up for the
chapel and Amusement Hall.

Both floors of the extension on one side of the centre are occu-
pied by male patients, while on the other side the female patients
have accommodations.

The giving of money, provisions, and groceries as out-door
relief (the propriety of which had caused much discussion) having
been stopped, the City was divided into districts and a few ph^-si-
cians were employed at a salary of $120 per annum to attend the
sick poor at their homes. Medicines and diatetic food were
furnished free of cost to the patients. The number of physicians
has been increased until now there are 25 of the old school and 25
of the new, with a salary of $240 per annum.

The medicines and food furnished cost the City about ?S,ooo,
which, added to the $12,000 paid the physicians, brings the cost of
the item up to $20,000 per annum.

330 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

The position of hospital warden was abolished and that of
physician-in-chief to the hospital was created in its stead ; Dr.
Thomas N. McLaughlin, who was warden at the time, was elected
to the new position.

Mr. George Roney was elected Superintendent and assumed
the duties on the ist of January, 1886. Mr. Roney was an ex-
member of Select Council, ex-fire commissioner, and a veteran of
the civil war. Many noticeable improvements were made during
his administration. During the year a brick pavilion, for the
Men's Nervous Wards, was erected in the yard to the northeast
ward of, and running parallel with, the main hospital building.

Miss Mary Shields, who died October 8th, 1880, bequeathed to
the City of Philadelphia, one-twelfth part of her estate "to relieve
and make more comfortable the sick and insane poor in the Alms-
house in Philadelphia."

The Board of Directors of the City Trusts conferred with the
Guardians of the Poor and adopted a plan for the disposal of the
funds. This provided for the appointment of a physician of at
least five years standing to act as Superintendent of what was
termed the " Mary Shields Almshouse Fund."

Dr. W. H. Wallace was appointed, and he still holds the posi-
tion. He visits the institution frequently, keeps himself informed
as to the needs of the patients, confers with the officials, and reports
to the Board of Directors of City Trusts. The accumulated in-
come was applied to the erection of new kitchens, one for the
insane and another for the hospital departments, supplied with the
best character of cooking apparatus. In addition to these the fund
has been used for supplying, as far as possible, such things as
were necessary to the comfort and welfare of the patients, but which
the authorities could not procure in the usual way. Some of these
articles have been an organ, a piano, banjos, accordeons and other
musical instruments, lawn seats, settees, water coolers for the
wards, framed pictures and a number of games, both for out-door
and in-door use. Concerts are given during the cold weather, and
a band is employed to play in the yards of the insane department
during the summer seasons. Stage coaches are also employed to

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 331

take selected patients out for a ride, several times during the
pleasant weather. A number of magazines, illustrated weekly and
monthly papers are subscribed for, and a well selected library was
presented to that department. On the holidays the patients are
furnished with an excellent dinner of turkey and pies, and fruit is
provided for them at different times. The amusement hall was
supplied with the furniture, including a pulpit for religious
services, tables, chairs and seats for the patients.

The hospital has been furnished with a number of useful arti-
cles, such as water and air beds, cushions, rockers, rolling chairs,
trusses, etc.

The name of Alary Shields should ever be held in grateful
remembrance for the great good that has been accomplished by her
bequest through her representatives.

Dr. Joseph Leidy resigned his position as Physician-in-Chief
■of the Insane Department, and Dr. W. H. Wallace was elected in
his stead, but he only served a few months.

The Act known as the " Bullitt Bill " went into effect in April,
18S7. It revolutionized the management of the Almshouse. The
Boards of the Guardians of the Poor and Managers of the House
•of Correction were abolished, and the two departments were con-
solidated in the Department of Charities and Correction. This
•department is under the care and management of a board consist-
ing of a president and four directors, appointed by the Maj^or for a
period of five years, and all the authority of the two old boards is
vested in them. The board is subdivided into two bureaus,
•one known as the Bureau of Charities and the other as the
Bureau of Correction, the President being c.v officio a member of
hoth.

The Bureau of Charities is to look after the affairs of the
Almshouse, meeting there at least once in each week. Reports
are made to the Board at its monthl}^ meetings. All of the
members of the Board are expected to visit each of the insti-
tutions not less than once in each month. The civil service
rules adopted in accordance with the law provided for the retention
of faithful officials and employees, so there were verj^ few changes

3-32 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

made. These rules were complied with during several administra-
tions with very beneficial results.

During previous years much of the business of the institu-
tion was intrusted to committees of the Board of Guardians. The
old rules show that there were standing committees of three mem-
bers each on the out-wards, children's asylum, hospital, insane
department, classification and diet, manufacturing department, farm
and garden, supplies and accounts, and a committee of five mem-
bers on support and bastardy cases. The work of these commit-
tees has since been performed by the Superintendent, under the
direction of the Bureau of Charities,

The first board of directors of the department was composed
of Dr. James W. White, President, and Robert Laughlin, Dr.
Richard A. Cleeman, Richard C. McMurtrie and James Stewart.
They were appointed by Hon. Edwin H. Fitler, the first Mayor
under the new law.

The last of&cial act of the old Board of Guardians was the
passage of the following preamble and resolutions :

"At a stated meeting of the Board of Guardians of the Poor^
held March 28th^ 1887, on motion of Mr. William McAleer, the
following preamble and resolutions were adopted, viz :

" Whereas, This Board of Guardians in their experience as
officials have been called in close contact with the President of
Common Councils, who has at all times by his advice and influ-
ence been of great service to this Board ; and

" Whereas, It is fitting the Board should take action before
its dissolution upon the valuable services rendered by Charles-
Lawrence, Esq., President of Common Council, particularly for
his untiring exertions after the disastrous fire at Blocklc}^ in secur-
ing for this Department the appropriation to complete the rebuild-
ing of the Insane Department ; therefore

^'^ Resolved^ That this Board tender to Charles Lawrence, Esq.,.
President of Common Council, their hearty thanks for his energy
and influence in obtaining from Councils the necessary means for
the completion of the buildings for the insane poor.

^'^Resolved^ That we recognize in Charles Lawrence a gentle-

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 333

man eminently qualified for the important and honorable position
of a legislator in City Councils, and one whose heart prompts him
to sympathize with and alleviate the sufferings of the poor.

^'^ Resolved^ That the members of this Board will always remem-
ber with gratitude his disinterested services and tender to him their
best wishes for his success in whatever post of honor or duty he
may bs called upon to occupy."

A copy of the resolutions, handsomely engrossed and framed,
signed by Joseph Paxson, President, and attested b}^ Robert C.
Floyd, Secretary, M^as presented to Mr. Lawrence, and is highly
appreciated and valued.

Upon the re-organization of the hospital by the new board. Dr.
George M. Wells was made Chief Resident Physician, and the posi-
tion was now made to include that of Physician-in-Chief of the
insane department. The rules adopted prescribed the duties, chief
of which are :

" He shall have the general supervision of the hospital in all
its departments ; he shall be physician-in-chief of the insane de-
partment ; he shall have full control of the resident physicians,
and shall see that they faithfully perform their duties and conduct
themselves with decorum at all times when within the institution,
and shall report to the bureau any dereliction on their part ; he
shall have control and general management of all the nurses and
attendants connected with the hospital. The library shall be
under the superintendence and direction of the chief resident physi-
cian ; and it shall be the duty of the person engaged for that
purpose to see that all the books are catalogued, labelled and
numbered."

During the year another brick pavilion for the men's nervous
wards was erected ; the apartments for the nurses and those of the
resident physicians were renovated ; the general laundry was en-
larged and some new machinery introduced ; a drying room for the
laundry connected with the insane department was built ; the outer
walls of the buildings were rough coated ; the outside woodwork
was re-painted ; balconies to the fire escapes were completed, and
larger water pipes laid.

CHAPTER XXXI.

ORDINANCE TO REMOVE ALMSHOUSE— MAYOR FITLER OPPOSES

REMOVAL.

ON March 21st, 1888, an Ordinance was approved which
anthorized the Mayor to transfer to the Trustees of the
University of Pennsylvania a certain lot of ground
bounded as follows :

Commencing at the intersection of Woodland Avenue and
Thirty-sixth Street, thence along Woodland Avenue, west, 248 feet
and 3 inches to the grounds occupied as a Police Station House ;
thence along said grounds, west, 415 feet and 6 inches to Spruce
Street; thence south 182 feet and iqS^ inches to Thirty-sixth;
thence north 237 feet and 11 inches to place of beginning; in con-
sideration of the sum of one dollar, subject to the following condi-
tions : " That the ground shall never be alienated by the Trustees
of the University, without the consent of the City, and further
that the said Trustees will erect and maintain a fire proof library
building, and provide means to maintain it as a free library of
reference open to the entire community, and that work thereon
shall be begun within four months from the date of conveyance."

An ordinance was approved on the 2 2d day of March, 1888,
" To authorize the location and erection of a new Almshouse ; to
provide for the removal of the indigent poor from Blockley Alms-
house, and to make an appropriation therefor."

It provided "that so much of the House of Correction property
as lies between the State Road and the Pennsylvania Railroad as
may be required, is hereby set apart for the erection of buildings to
be occupied, and used by the indigent poor, of the City of Phila-
delphia."

The Mayor was authorized to engage an Architect to prepare
plans, and, under the direction of the Mayor, to supervise the work
as it progressed. He was to be paid not exceeding three per cent,
of the cost of the buildiugs. The sum of $150,000 was appro-
priated to pay for the buildings, plans, etc.
334

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 33o

The Board of Charities and Correction was authorized and
directed to remove the indigent poor from the Blockle}^ Almshouse,
upon the completion of the buildings. Work has not been started
upon them up to the present time.

During this year the last of the old wooden pavilions were
removed and two additional brick buildings substituted for them.
More fire escapes were erected ; and the laying of Asphalt paving,
in place of the old cobble-stones in the streets within the inclosure,
was commenced. It was found that the filling in of the marsh-
land necessitated the extension of the sev;er of the insane depart-
ment, to carry the drainage into the Schuylkill River. An addi-
tion 450 feet in length was built, and the sewer was cleansed for
the first time. It was stated that 142 cart loads of material were
taken from it.

An effort was made to sell a large tract of the Almshouse
property to a manufacturing firm for $50,000. After considerable
deliberation Councils concluded to have it sold at public sale. M.
S. Thomas & Sons were selected to sell it, which they did and
the sale was confirmed on March 12th, 1889. The land was
divided and the purchasers were named as follows :

" Lot No, J. — All that lot of ground situate on the south side
of Locust Street on the east side of 34th Street, on the northeast
side of South Street and on the northwest side of 33d Street, con-
taining in front on Locust Street 441 feet, 1% inches, on 33d
Street 442 feet, 5^ inches, on South Street, 236 feet, 3^ inches^
and on 34th Street, 238 feet, 9^5 inches.

" No. 2 — xAU that lot of ground at northeast corner of 33d and
South Streets, along 33d Street 346 feet ; thence southeast 174 feet,
8^ inches ; thence northeast 96 feet, ^]4 inches to Marston Street ;
thence along Marston Street, southeast, 354 feet to Meadland
Avenue; thence along Meadland Avenue 442 feet, 5^ inches to
South Street ; thence along South Street 528 feet, 8 ^^4 inches to
place of beginning.

" No. J. — All that lot of ground beginning at northeast corner
of Meadland Avenue and South Street ; thence along Meadland
Avenue, northeast, 442 feet, 5^ inches to Marston Street ; thence

336 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

along Marston Street, southeast, i66 feet, 5 3s inches to the land of
the West Chester and Philadelphia Railroad Company ; thence by
the same, southwest, 446 feet, g}^ inches to South Street; thence
along that street, northwest, 214 feet, 3% inches to place of begin-
ning," all unto William Pepper, Provost of the University of
Pennsylvania, for the sum of $149,800.00.

" A^o. 4. — All that triangular lot of ground at the northeast
corner of Headland Avenue and Marston Street, thence along
Headland Avenue 11 feet, i^ inches, thence northwest 136 feet,
13/8 inches to the northeasterly side of Harston Street, thence
along Harston Street, southeast, 135 feet 8 inches to place of
beginning.

'' No. 5. — All that lot of ground on the northeast corner of
Headland Avenue and Harston Street, thence northeast along
Headland Avenue 16 feet i^ inches, thence southeast 138 feet 8^
inches to the line of the West Chester and Philadelphia Railroad
Company, thence south 29 feet 3 inches to Harston Street, thence
along Harston Street 149 feet, i^ inches to place of beginning,"
to J. H. Gummey & Sons for the sum of $2,200.

It will be noticed that the sale realized $152,000, instead of
$50,000.

In Hay, 1889, Dr. J. W. White retired from the Board, and
Mr. Robert Laughlin succeeded him as President. Hr. Galloway
C. Horris was appointed a Director to fill the vacancy on the Board,
but he only served until December when he resigned and Hr. John
Roberts took his place.

Hayor Fitler, in his annual message, opposed the removal of
the Almshouse as provided for by the ordinance of Harch 22, 1888,
and gave his reasons for so doing. The principal of these were,
that it would be necessary to build an additional hospital in con-
nection with the new buildings to accommodate the cases of sick-
ness constantly occurring in the institution ; that the removal of
the Almshouse would greatly add to the cost of conducting two
establishments separated by nearly ten miles ; that for reasons of
convenience and economy the Almshouse should be near to the city ;
that nearly all of the inmates of the Almshouse are proper subjects

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 337

for hospital care ; that the separation would cause not onl}- a large
expenditure of nione}^ for the erection of new buildings, but would
make necessary large additional fixed expenditures for manage-
ment, with inconvenience and injury to the patients required to be
moved from one to the other.

During the year nev/ water closets were erected in the Out-
wards, the obstetrical ward and in the men's medical wards. This
was a much needed improvement. Councils appropriated $5,000
towards starting an electrical plant to light the grounds and to put
a few lamps in the buildings. This was done under the direction
of the Electrical Bureau of the city.

Dr. George M. Wells resigned his position of Chief Resident
Physician on January 13th, 1890, to take effect in one month from
that time. Dr. Daniel H. Hughes was elected in his stead and
went on duty in March. He still remains and has served with
marked ability and faithfulness. Many improvements in the care and
treatment of the patients have been inaugurated under his directions.

A brick kitchen for the use of the Outwards was erected and
paid for by the Trustees of the Mary Shields estate. It is 93
feet in length and 20 feet in width ; it stands in the centre of the
courtyard, adjoining the bakehouse and is fitted with the necessary
cooking apparatus.

On July ist, 1890, an ordinance was approved which author-
ized the sale of 6-»''iooo acres of the meadow land adjoining the
Junction Railroad to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for the
sum of $10,000.

On the same day another ordinance was approved which trans-
ferred the $150,000 appropriated on March 22, 1890 for erecting
new Almshouse on the grounds of the House of Correction, " For
the purpose of erecting additional buildings to be occupied for an
insane hospital, the Philadelphia Hospital, or as Outwards, such
buildings to be either independent buildings or wings of buildings
now existing on said grounds.

On October ist, 1890, an additional sum of $75,000 w^as appro-
priated for the same purpose, to be taken from the special fund
from the sale of the Almshouse ground.
22

338 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

Mr. George Roney resigned his position as Superintendent on
April 6tli, 1891, to assume the duties of Director of Public Safety,
to which he had been appointed by Mayor Edwin S. Stuart. The
vacancy was filled, after a competitive examination, by the election
of Charles Lawrence, formerl}^ President of Common Council and
a veteran of the United States Navy during the Civil War, on
May nth, 1891.

An additional appropriation of $26,074, from the special fund,
was made on June nth, 1891, to complete the buildings pro-
vided for.

In April, 1892, Mayor Stuart appointed a new Board of
Directors, consisting of Mr. James A. Freeman, President, and
Messrs. William H. Lambert, Alfred Moore, William D. Gardner
and John Huggard, the term of office of the old Board having
expired, Mr. Freeman tendered his resignation on account of sick-
ness on September 29th, 1892, when Mr. Lambert was appointed
President of the Department and Dr. James W. Walk was selected
to fill the vacancy on the Board. A series of resolutions expressing
the regret of the members at the retirement of Mr. Freeman, were
adopted by the Board.

On March 19th, 1892, an Ordinance was passed to "authorize
the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania to sell and convey
part of the lot of land that was conveyed to them under the author-
ity of an Ordinance approved on the 21st of March, 1888, to a
corporation to be organized for the purpose of establishing a
museum to receive and preserve anatomical and other specimens,
and to promote the study of biology, anatomy and kindred
sciences." This led to the erection of the Wistar Institute on that
ground.

On June 21st, 1892, the sum of $50,000 was appropriated from
the special fund, $40,000 of which was for the erection of a building
for the accommodation of the nurses of the Hospital, and the
balance for a brick structure for the care and treatment of any
contagious diseases that developed in the institution.

The old Clinic Hall was remodeled and put in first-class order.
The improvements were so marked that the medical staff concluded

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 339

that there should be a formal re-opening, and it should be an event
in the history of the Hospital. It took place on the 8th of October,
1892. Hon. Edwin S. Stuart, Mayor of the city, presided and
delivered an address. A large audience was present, including the
Directors of the Department, the members of the medical staff, a
number of other physicians and prominent persons. Addresses
were made by Dr. Roland G. Curtin, President of the Medical Staff,
President Lambert, Messrs. Gardner, Moore and Huggard, of the
Board of Directors, Dr. James Tyson and Superintendent Lawrence.
As Dr. Curtin's address contained much information, some extracts
from it are inserted. He said :

" Mr. President, Ladies aiid Gentleme7i : The members of the
Medical Staff of the Philadelphia Hospital have chosen me to speak
for them on this important occasion — important not alone to the
medical staff, but to the City of Philadelphia and its suffering poor
who come to these doors for relief.

" The medical staff wish me to thank one and all who have
been instrumental in bringing about this much needed improve-
ment, in the planning and completion of which our Superintendent,
Mr. Lawrence, has taken a continuous interest. This is what may
be called practical reform. Let us at this time contrast the old
with the new, and see what has been accomplished by the improve-
ments made. The old amphitheatre or operating room, which
stood between the walls that now surround us, was not up to the
requirements of modern science. It was unsafe for operations ; it
was dark and poorly ventilated. It answered well enough for the
period in which it was built, but was wholly inadequate for this
enlightened age. It had lived its life ; it had run its race.
Until 1 856 the old clinic room was not, as now, connected with
the hospital by a covered wa3\ The patients before that time
were carried out in the rain or snow, often to their disadvantage.
I was chairman of the committee of the resident physicians
who asked the Board of Guardians to have the covered way
built.

" The post-mortem room and dead house, where all the germ-
exhaling bodies were carried after death, and where autopsies were

340 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

held, were only twenty feet away, and opened into a hall that com-
municated directly with the old operating room.

" The pathological room, where specimens were taken to be
mounted for the museum, was entered from the old clinic room,
and the museum, where all the alcoholic and dried specimens were
placed on exhibition, surrounded the top of the amphitheatre.
These conditions, associated with an old wooden floor, which
absorbed the fluids for germ-food and held it for their propagation,
would make it an unsafe place for operations. The picture I have
given would shock the nerves of a sensitive modern aseptic and
antiseptic surgeon.

" But now how different ! We have a light, roomy building,
beautiful to look at, connected with the hospital by a handsome,
enclosed passage-way, by means of which the patients can be car-
ried to the clinics without exposing them to the outside air. The
ample waiting and etherizing rooms which surround the new clinic
are another ver}^ great improvement. You will all please observe
that the new room has a hardwood wainscot and cement floor, glass
shelves for instruments, also hardwood benches, all of which can
be thoroughly cleansed. The heating registers are placed in the
upper portion of the steps, so that the dust and fluids cannot grav-
itate into them with poisonous germs, there to be hatched and
propagated by the general steam heat, to the disadvantage of the
old sores and the freshly-made wounds of the surgeon. The dead
house, post mortem room, the pathological laboratory and museum,
with their dangerous effluvia, have been removed to another part of
the grounds.

" The room has plenty of light and good ventilation, and can
be properly cleansed, all of which gives increased safety to the
sufferers undergoing operations. We may expect better results
than could have been obtained in the past. It is a clinic room
constructed in accordance to the rules of modern sanitation ; it is
now ample in size and as good and comfortable as any in the coun-
try. It is a great credit to those who have presided over the insti-
tution that holds the welfare of the indigent poor of the city in
their hands

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 341

" The two side walls of the old clinic room were part of an
entrance from the street ; two cross walls were erected and the
enclosed square roofed over and the seats placed therein. After
thirty years, in 189 1, the roof was taken off and a new one placed
on the old walls. This year, 1892, thirty-one years after its dedi-
cation, the whole has been torn out and made over, and the modern
clinic room, in which we meet together to-da}^, appears as you see
it now. Nothing remains of the former hall but the old stone
walls, which have been renewed, in appearance by the stucco
covering

" It may not be amiss to call attention to some of the benefits
derived from clinical teaching carried on in Blockley. " Old.
Blockley " is honored all over the land, and in many foreign coun-
tries by the teaching that has been given here by such lights as
Benjamin Rush, Gerhard, Pennock, Gross (father and son) Pan-
coast the elder, Ludlow, Agnew, and others who have gone to their
reward ; and among those now living who have long since retired
from the staff, b}^ Stille, Da Costa, Penrose, Pepper, Wood, T3'Son,
Osier, the 3^ounger Pancoast, and many others who might be men-
tioned if time permitted. They gave their valuable time without
pecuniary compensation to the poor of Philadelphia. How much
they owed to Blockley for their information and experience, none
can tell. We all — patients and doctors — have been directly or in-
directly benefited by their teachings.

" Few have a conception of the multiplied labors of the chief
resident physician. Dr. Daniel K. Hughes, in an institution like
this. He acts not onl}^ as physician-in-chief to the insane depart-
ment, but has many other duties connected with the medical work
of the hospital,

" I have made a calculation that in thirty-one years fifteen to
twenty thousand students have attended clinics in the old clinic
room. This teaching has had much to do with making Philadel-
phia the medical centre of the United States. In this showing we
are all interested, whether laymen or doctors. We have now in
Philadelphia over one thousand medical students. Let us suppose
that they spend six hundred dollars each 3'ear apiece ; this makes

342 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

an average of six hundred thousand dollars. Leave out one-sixth
for medical students of Philadelphia, and you have half a million of
dollars spent here every year. This money is distributed not alone
in the colleges, but also in the boarding houses, tailor shops, instru-
ment makers, shoe stores and book stores. Moreover, the medical stu-
dents who graduate here come back for medical and other supplies.

" By Philadelphia being a great medical centre, thousands of
patients come here annually to be treated, and they also leave
much money behind for board, nursing, shopping, etc. These
facts prove that the city at large is benefited fi^nancially by the
medical teaching ; the material furnished by this Hospital assists
largely in giving us the reputation necessary to attract students.
We should all be interested in keeping up that reputation, and
proud to assist in adding to her honor and general welfare.

" The material furnished by this hospital has instructed also
our family physicians ; we know the benefit of their experience.
xAgain, the researches here have settled some of the most important
questions in medicine. It was here that Doctors Gerhard and
Pennock gave to the medical profession post-mortem evidence of
the essential difference between typhus and typhoid fevers. They
showed that the condition of the intestines in the one forbids solid
food, and this one observation alone saved thousands of lives all
over the world.

" Blockley has given the world much valuable statistics and
information which have been published in journals, text-books,
addresses, reports, etc., and this seed sown broadcast has ripened
into multiplied harvests throughout the world. Some of the nota-
ble literature that has thus emanated from the valuable experience
here gained may be instanced : Gerhard and Pennock on the dif-
ferential diagnosis between typhus and typhoid fever ; Stille on
cholera and on epidemic cerebro-spinal meningitus ; also Dr. W.
H. H. Githens on the same subject ; Pepper and Parry on relap-
sing fever, and many other valuable essays well-known to all the
medical profession. ......

"The resident staff consisted of ten in 1866. The nurses
were generally persons who had been patients and numbered about

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 848

twenty. The visiting medical staff of phj-sicians was composed of
twelve members. The visiting staff has been increased to forty ;
the resident staff now numbers twenty-three; and in the nurses
school we have about one hundred nurses.

" The attendance on the Philadelphia Hospital clinics is from
all the colleges in the city. The students are from all countries.
I have seen on the benches Turks, Roumanians, Africans, Cana-
dians, Burmudans, Brazilians, Chilians and Japanese — male and
female — old style, new style and eclectic. All students are M-el-
come, and are admitted on an equal footing without fee or reward,
and receive the best practical instruction we can give. The facili-
ties for clinical instruction in this hospital are excelled by only
about four hospitals in the world, and by none on this side of the
Atlantic. This hospital embraces what in New York is called
Bellevue Hospital or City Hospital, and Charity Hospital, which
is associated with the Almshouse, criminal institutions, and others
that are under city control. The two together are larger than
Blockley, but one is in the city and the other on Blackwell's
Island. We have in the winter over twenty-two hundred sick and
nervous patients to glean from. To this add the valuable teaching
in pathology, to make which more effective we have sometimes
opportunities to show the classes not only the case, but also the
pathological specimens from the bodies of the patients previously
lectured upon, verifying or disproving the opinions expressed to
the students in the clinics. The teaching here is plain, practical
instruction. ......

" You may ask what benefit the clinics are to the patients. I
reply that the clinic cases are studied more carefull}- than the
others. They are examined with great minuteness, often a long
time before being shown to the class ; they are looked on in all
their aspects. A doctor is very chary of the diagnosis he makes
betore a class ; he is always very careful how he presents the cases,
and his treatment is thorough and scientific, for the students are
great critics, and sometimes they have the chance of seeing the
' crucial tests ' commonly known as post-mortems.

" You may ask, do patients object to going before students ?

344 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

Such objections are exceedingly rare and are always respected.
The members of the staff will all bear me out that it is not infre-
quent for the patients to ask to be lectured on.

" In concluding my remarks, ladies and gentlemen, T cannot
do better than to make two brief quotations from Dr. Agnew's his-
tory of the institution :

"'On the loth of September, i860,' he says, 'the medical
board addressed the Guardians on the propriety of throwing open
'the wards of the hospital for free clinical instruction. This propo-
sition was considered from a liberal and intelligent stand-point, in
its broader and more general bearings, and on the 24th of Septem-
ber, i860, received their cordial sanction ; and its doors have been
opened to this time ; and it is to be hoped through all time to come
its doors may never be closed against or a fee craved from those
who enter its halls in search of knowledge, which can alone render
them qualified to discharge the functions of a divine art.'

"Again he says, ' It is difiBcult to over-estimate the importance
of this institution to either the profession or the community. To
say nothing of the multiform types of destitution and want which
it meets and relieves, look at the field which it offers to the disci-
ples of medicine, and no man will lightly esteem this who contem-
plates the prosecution of his profession with a conscience void of
offence towards God and man. Here is a hospital in which over
eight thousand cases of disease are annually treated ; a children's
asylum, offering illustration of all the complaints incident to this
period of life ; and there is an obstetrical department, in which as
many as seven cases of labor have occurred in twenty-four hours,
and where in the last thirteen years over two thousand six hundred
children have been born. One year industriously spent in this in-
stitution will yield in medical experience the fruits of ten years
gathered from ordinary practice. But to place the statement in
another form ; a graduate of medicine faithfully improving for a
single year his opportunity for study of disease in the wards of the
Philadelphia Hospital, will be better fitted to assume the responsi-
bility of his profession than one who labors ten years in an ordi-
nary city or country practice.' "

CHAPTER XXXII.

DESCRIPTION OF NURSES' HOUSE AND ISOLATING BUILDING— FIRE
IN LAUNDRY AND STOREHOUSE.

AN Ordinance entitled an " Ordinance to vacate a certain
piece of ground at Thirty-third and South Streets for the
purpose of straightening streets, and to convey the same
to the Universit}^ of Pennsylvania," was passed on the 5th
of January, 1893. It provided :

" That all that tract of land beginning on the east side of
Thirty-fourth Street at a point 225 feet 7^ inches south of the
south side of Locust Street ; thence southwardly along the east
line of Thirty-fourth Street 150 feet, more or less, to Spruce Street ;
thence eastwardly along the north side of Spruce Street 190 feet,
more or less, to Thirty-third Street ; thence along Thirty-third
Street 15 feet, more or less ; thence 260 feet 3^'2 inches to place of
beginning shall be vacated, and that so much of the Ordinance ap-
proved June 2ist, 1892, providing for the paving of the said piece
of ground hereby vacated be, and the same is hereby repealed."

It authorized the Mayor to sign a deed conveying the property
vacated to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania for the
use of the University for its authorized educational purposes, and
subject to the conditions that said land should never be alienated,
and further that no buildings other than for educational purposes
should ever be erected thereon.

The erection of the building for the accommodation of the
nurses in the hospital effected a great change in their mode of
living. The structure is 134 feet 8 inches long and 78 feet 10
inches wide, with corridors ten feet wide the entire length of each
story, terminating in bays, with transverse corridors seven feet
wide, also terminating in bays, and with broad stair\va3\s at the
intersection of corridors at each end of the building. The first
story is twelve feet high in the clear, the second and third stories
•each nine feet high, plastered on hollow brick walls with hard pol-

345

346 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

ished finish coat cement, washboards or bases and rounded corners
throughout, the amount of wood finish being reduced to a minimum.

There are accommodations on the three floors for 120 nurses,
exclusive of the fourth floor, which has a central dormitor}^ about
62 by 34 feet, and two (north and south) attics, 60 by 25. feet each.
The exterior is of simple hard brick, with marble and terra cotta
trimmings ; the roofing is of green slate with copper flushings and
gutters, and the porches on the east and west fronts are supported
by brick arches and terra cotta with marble coping, the asphalt
roofs of the porches serving for an open balcony, heavy glass floor
lights having been introduced to prevent darkening of lower rooms.

Mr. John Huggard, of the Board of Directors, died on the 24th
of January, 1894, after a lingering illness. Resolutions were
passed by the Directors, expressing the appreciation of the mem-
bers of the Board of the valuable services rendered by Mr. Hug-
gard, and their sorrow for his death. Mr. John Shallcross was
appointed by Mayor Stuart to fill the vacancy.

An ordinance was passed on March 30th, 1894, that ordained :
' That so much of the xAlmshouse grounds which was set apart
for public park purposes under and by virtue of the ordinance
approved July 6th, 1883, as is described as follows : ' All that certain
lot or piece of ground in the Twenty-seventh Ward of the City of
Philadelphia, beginning at the southeast corner of Thirty-fourth
and Spruce Streets ; along said Spruce Street to intersection with
southwest side of South Street ; thence to the northwest boundary
of the right of way of the West Chester and Philadelphia Rail-
road Company ; thence along the same to the northeast side of
Almshouse or Blockley Lane ; thence along the same to the north-
west boundary of the presen: Water Department storage yard ;
thence along this line to the northeastward 400 feet ; thence north-
west along a line parallel to and 30 feet to the northeast of the
northeast wall of the present Almshouse stone barn for a distance
of 350 feet ; thence southwest along a line parallel to and about 30
feet to the northwest of the northwest wall of said barn to its inter-
section with the east side of Thirty-fourth Street ; thence along the
same to Spruce Street and place of beginning, containing eight

History of Philadelphia Ahnshoiises and Hospitals. 34T

acres, more or less, shall be forthwith opened to use as a public
park forever.'

" For the purpose of securing the suitable improvement of the
same, said lot of ground above described shall be conve3^ed to
the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania in trust to lay
out and maintain the same forever as for a Museum and a Botani-
cal Park and Garden, without expense to the City of Philadelphia,
to be opened to the free access of the public at all times forever?
under suitable regulations, to be from time to time agreed upon by
said Trustees and the Mayor of said City, and also to erect thereon
a Museum of Science and Art, without expense to the said City :
Provided, that the said grounds shall be placed in the proper cpn-
dition for the purposes of this ordinance within five years from the
date of the execution of the deed creating and accepting said trust
herein created, said deed of trust to be prepared by the City Solici-
tor, with all suitable covenants and provisions necessary to carry
out the intents of this ordinance and secure the privileges of all
parties named, to be executed by the Mayor of said City and said
Trustees, with the proper legal authority accepting the same ; and
provided further, That in the event of the failure on the part of the
said Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania to place said
grounds in the proper condition for the purposes of this ordinance
within five years, or of maintaining the same as a Museum and a
Botanical Garden and Park and keeping the same open to the pub-
lic as aforesaid, at all times hereafter forever, or shall divert the
same grounds to any other purposes than those specified in this
ordinance, then the trust created by this ordinance shall cease and
determine, and this ordinance and all privileges granted hereunder
shall become null and void, and the said propert}^ shall revert to
the City of Philadelphia free and discharged of any and all trusts
hereby created, or expense or obligation created b}- reason of this
ordinance."

The passage of this ordinance necessitated the removal of the
goods from the yard used by the Water Department for the storage
of pipes, the large free public bath house on Spruce Street and
several buildings belonging to the Almshouse.

348 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

The Isolating Building was designed by the Stiperintendent
and erected from plans made by him. It was built of brick, one
story high, and deserves more than passing mention. It is 88 feet
in length and 26 feet wide, with an enclosed porch of wood and
glass around one end and the two sides. A brick partition wall,
extending to the roof, is built lengthwise through the centre, divid-
ing it into two -halves, one for males and the other for females.
These parts are divided into rooms by brick partitions running to
the roof, so that each room has a brick M'all around the whole four
sides. Doors open from each room to the porch, and there is no
communication from one room to another. The floors are cement,
and the walls and ceilings are covered with adamant cement
painted. A register in each room furnishes the necessary heat,
and the ventilation is secured by a ventilator through the ceiling
and roof of each room, together with the windows and movable
transoms over the doors. There are two rooms for the nurses at
one end, and two for bath-rooms, lavatories, etc., at the other, with
seven on each side for the patients, all supplied with gas. The
floors are four feet above the ground, and as the walls are built on
arches, a free circulation of air is secured under them.

The maternity wards were much improved by building an
addition, which connected the two buildings and added a much
larger room than any they had before.

A very important ordinance was approved on the 27th of June,
1895. It was entitled "An Ordinance to authorize the immediate
opening of a portion of the Almshouse grounds, set apart for park
purposes by the ordinance approved July 6, 1883, for public use as
a park and for a museum, and conveying the same to the Board of
Trustees of the Philadelphia Museum in trust for the purposes
herein set forth." The full text of the bill follows :

''Section i. The Select and Common Councils of the City
of Philadelphia do ordain. That so much of the Almshouse grounds
which was set apart for public park purposes under and by virtue
of the ordinance approved July 6, 18S3, as is described as follows:
Beginning at a point in the northeast side of Cleveland Avenue,
100 feet wide, as the same is proposed to be laid out on the revised

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 349

plan of the City, at the di.^.taiice of 40 feet and ]/^ inch northeast
from the northwest line of the property of the Philadelphia and
West Chester Railroad, and extending thence along the northeast
side of the said Cleveland Avenue, north 4° 23' 19.4" west, 92 feet,
2yi inches to a point; thence along a line parallel with Vintage
Avenue and 279 feet, 3 ?§ inches southeast from the northwest side
thereof, north 61° 28' 36" east 1,551 feet, 1% inches to a point on
the southwest of a certain 46-feet lane, known as Blockley Lane ;
thence along the southwest side of the said Blockley Lane, south
48° 59' 30" east, 248 feet, 2^ inches to a point on the northwest
side of a proposed 40 feet wide drive to be laid out along the
line of the Philadelphia and West Chester Railroad ; thence along
the northwest side of the said proposed drive the following courses
and distances thereof, viz: south 42° 38' 55.5" west 2 feet, 1V3
inches to a point; thence south 58° 26' 25" west 34 feet, 5^^ inches
to a point; thence south 61° 15' 24.7" west 1022 feet, ^y^ inches to
a point; thence south 68° 37' 50" west 57 feet, 10^ inches to a
point ; thence south 70° 08' 50" west 79 feet, 11^ inches to a point;
thence south 70° 38' 19" west iii feet, 2^8 inches to a point ; thence
south 76° 55' 59" west, 97 feet, >4 inch to a point; thence south
jy^ 26' 21" west loi feet, 2}i inches to a point; thence south jd>°
41' ii" west 96 feet, ^8 inch to a point; thence south 83° 36' 30"
west 94 feet, iiM^ inches to a point in the northeast of the afore-
said Cleveland Avenue and place of beginning — containing eight
acres of ground, more or less, shall be forthwith opened to use as a
public park forever.

"Section 2.— Whereas the City of Philadelphia has come
into possession of certain collections of great extent and value
which have been presented to the City by various foreign govern-
ments upon the pledge that said collections shall be suitably cared
for by the City of Philadelphia ; and whereas by ordinance
approved on the 15th day of June, 1894, there was created a Board of
Trustees for establishing public museums to whose custod}- the
aforementioned collections were consigned with instructions to
secure funds and a suitable site for museum buildings to accommo-
date said collections, the present ordinance provides that the portion

350 History of Philadelphia Almshouse sand Hospitals.

of the Almshouse grounds described above in Section i, shall be
entrusted to said Board of Trustees as a site for the museum build-
ings to accommodate said collections :

" Provided^ That the said grounds and said museum buildings
thereon to be erected shall be forever open to the free access of the
public at all times- forever under suitable regulations to be from
time to time agreed upon by the said Board of Trustees and
approved by City Councils ;

'''■Provided^ That the said grounds shall be subject to the use
and occupation by the Department of Charities and Correction for
the purposes of its present use until the Board of Trustees of the
Philadelphia Museums shall be ready to proceed with the erection
of the museum, building, it being further provided that no building
or buildings of any kind, character or description shall be erected
•on said ground by the Department of Charities and Correction ; and

" Provided^ That said Board of Trustees may go forward at
once with the proper planting of trees and plants in accordance
with the plans adopted for laying out said grounds as a public
park."

This ground was part of the field in front of the institution,
and was used as a garden for raising vegetables for the inmates, a
number of whom were employed for that purpose and saved con-
siderable expense.

On the night of August 14th, 1895, at a few minutes after
eleven o'clock, fire was discovered in the ironing- room of the
insane department. The stone wall that divided the outwards from
the insane department, served to separate the laundry on the one
side from the general storehouse on the other on the ground floors.
On the second-story over the drying room, and extending over the
rear end of the storehouse was located the ironing room. No
person had been in either of these buildings after 5.30 o'clock ; one
of the night watchmen passed them, while on his rounds through
the institution, not more than five minutes before the fire was seen,
and he reported that he did not see any signs of fire at that time,
so it is impossible to say how the fire originated. The flames
spread with wonderful rapidity, and the Superintendent immedi-

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 351

ately ordered the fire alarm to be rung at the Electrical Bureau.
Men were sent to the gates to open them when the firemen arrived
and to close them after they had entered. The hose was run out
from the insane wards, and the hose cart and steam fire engine
were taken over, and attachments made to the plugs. The water
supply was so scant that the streams could not do much good and
the storehouse was soon ablaze.

The safety of the inmates was looked after, and the insane
patients were quickly and quietly removed from the building that
faced the fire to wards in the rear. The inmates in the outwards
were in condition to be taken out at any time if it became neces-
sary. Everything was done to prevent a panic or undue excite-
ment, and so well was the discipline maintained that not an accident
occurred and no one was injured in the slightest manner.

Ver}^ little was left of the burnt buildings but the walls, and
nearly all of the contents were destroyed or damaged. Temporary
store-rooms were fitted up and food supplies for immediate use
were ordered ; the meals were served on the following day as
usual.

President Lambert in his annual report said : " Great credit is
due Superintendent Lawrence for excellent management under
exciting circumstances, and for his prompt disposition to meet the
emergency."

The Superintendent in his report said : " If the mains from
which we draw our supply have not the proper pressure we could
not get sufiicient water even with a larger pipe. I would again
suggest that a pumping engine could be placed on our wharf, to
draw water from the Schuylkill River to supply the pipes for fire
and other purposes that do not require subsidized or filtered water.
Millions of dollars worth of propert}'-, belonging to the City and
the University of Pennsylvania, are in adjoining blocks, and could
be protected in this manner at a comparatively small cost. We
have pipes run up through all our buildings and have hose
attached at all times on each floor to be used in case of fire. If we
do not have water in the pipes the hose is useless, and we have no
protection. If there had been water and pressure enough, I have

352 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

no doubt that the fire would have been extinguished in a short
time, and with much less damage and loss."

The storehouse was rebuilt and very much improved by putting
on a hip-roof with girders and trusses in place of the low, flat one
tbat was on it previous to the fire. Two large skylights were
erected, and now it is a well-lighted store with a cement floor 125
by 40 feet, entirely free of posts, with excellent veutilation and all
of the modern appliances to do the work.

The laundry for the insane department was rebuilt of brick
and made two-stories in height. There is no connection with the
storehouse, and no danger of fire spreading from one to the other
building. On the ground floor is the wash-room, then the drying
room with about forty horses in the steam closets, and connected
witb the ironing room. On the second floor are three workshops,
about 50 b}^ 20 feet each, with windows on all sides.

In the Chief Resident Physician's Report, of that year,
he says :

" The completion during the year of the Nurse's House has
added nine elegant wards to the hospital service, and given much
relief to the Men's Surgical, Men's Medical, and Women's Medical
Sections. It may be safely stated that the surgical wards are not
excelled b}^ those of any hospital in the City, and with the addi-
tion of the proposed water, instrument, and dressing sterilizers,
they will not be equalled."

President Lambert in his report of that year said : " The
Directors of the Department are confident that neither of the insti-
tutions in their charge has ever been in better condition than now,
and in this fact with its resultant benefits to the thousands of the
sick, homeless and unfortunates who have care and shelter within
these institutions, the Directors find compensation for the time and
thought devoted to the City's interest.

" For the excellent condition of the institutions and for their
efficient administration with their manifold and perplexing duties
and details, the Department is indebted to the respective Superin-
tendents, Charles Lawrence and Edwin A. Merrick, and I take
pleasure in acknowledging my high appreciation of their faithful,

History of Philadelpliia Almshouses and Hospitals. 353

intelligent and able discharge of duty, and in thanking them and
their associates for their conduct of the important interests
entrusted to their charge."

Another important bill was approved on the loth day of Octo-
ber, 1896. It reads as follows :

'• Section i. The Select and Common Councils of the City of
Philadelphia do ordain, That whereas the City of Philadelphia has
received and agreed to care for extensive and valuable collections
of Commercial, Educational and Scientific material, and has created
a Board of Trustees of the Philadelphia Museums charged with
this especial duty, and has made appropriations to said Board for
the erection of suitable buildings and for the maintenance of said
museums, and has b}^ ordinance, approved June 27th, 1895, trans-
ferred to said Board in trust for the purposes of said Museum a
certain portion of the Almshouse ground set apart for park pur-
poses by the ordinance approved July 6, 1883, which certain por-
tion of said ground is described in said orcinance, approved June
27th 1895, such additional portion of said Almshouse grounds was
set apart for public Park purposes as is described as follows :

" ' All that certain lot or piece of ground in the Twenty-seventh
Ward, of the City of Philadelphia, beginning at the southeast
corner of Vintage Avenue and Blockley Lane, thence extending
eastward along the south side of Blockley Lane to the line of the
land described in ordinance approved June 27th, 1895, ^^ trans-
ferred to the Board of Trustees of the Philadelphia Museums ;
thence along the west boundary of said land to the north side of
Cleveland Avenue, thence .along the north side of Cleveland
Avenue to the east side of Vintage Avenue thence along the
east side of Vintage Avenue to the south side of Blockley Lane
and place of beginning, containing seven acres, more or less ;
and also that strip of land, forty feet wide, bounded on the east b}^
the line of the Philadelphia and West Chester Railroad, and on the
west by the line of the land described in ordinance approved June
27th, 1895, as transferred to the Board of Trustees of the Philadel-
phia Museums, and extending from the south side of Blockley
Lane to the north side of Cleveland Avenue shall be forthwith
28

354 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

opened to use as a public Park for ever, and shall be, and is hereby-
assigned in trust to the Board of Trustees of the Philadelphia
Museums for the purposes of said institution :

" ' Provided^ That the said ground and the said museum build-
ings thereon to be erected shall be forever open to the free access
of the public at all times forever under suitable regulations to be
from time to time agreed upon by the said Board of Trustees and
approved by City Councils : Provided^ That the said property shall
be subject to the use and occupation by the Department of Charities
and Correction for the purposes of its present use until the Board,
of Trustees of the Philadelphia Museums shall be ready to proceed
with the erection of the museum buildings, it being further pro-
vided that no building or buildings of any kind, character or
description shall be erected on said ground by the Department of
Charities and Correction : And^ Provided^ That said Board of
Trustees ma}^ go forward at once with the proper planting of trees
and plants in accordance with the plans adopted for laying out said
ground as a Public Park.' "

This took the other part of the ground in front of the institu-
tion and left it surrounded by land that had been taken from the
Department and transferred to other corporations, thus leaving it
without any ground upon which to erect buildings to relieve the
crowded condition of the institution.

The removal of the Almshouse has again been agitated, but
the purchase of the ground for that purpose has not been accomp-
lished; in fact the location has not been decided upon, and the
Almshouse will remain where it is for some years longer.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

IMPROVEMENT IN TREATING PATIENTS.

HOW to improve the condition of the insane patients caused
much thought to the officials. Ever3^thing that could be
done to accomplish that object was carried out. Freeh
air and exercise was .a policy of the management, no
opportunity being omitted (weather permitting) during the entire
year, to give walking exercises twice a day to all patients who
were able. During the warm weather the patients were kept in
the yards during the entire day and were encouraged to engage in
games. Weekly concerts were given b}^ a band employed by the
representatives of the " Mary Shields Almshouse Fund." They
also furnished stage coaches to take a selected number of the
patients, with the necessary attendants, for a ride through the
Park and to other places. Trolley car rides were arranged for b}^
some ladies, and the patients were taken to the " McMurtrie "
home at Chestnut Hill, where they were furnished with refresh-
ments and given a delightful day's outing. During the fall and
winter months the amusement hall was used frequently for concerts
and other entertainments. The use of instrumental and vocal
• music was encouraged ; an orchestra was formed under the direc-
tion of an employee in the Department, and as several of the
patients were musicians, it soon became a valuable aid ; a choir,
consisting of forty voices, both male and female, was selected and
trained by Mrs. D. E. Hughes, wife of the Chief Resident Physi-
cian, and after much patience, perseverence and labor, for which
she is entitled to great credit, she succeeded in having it able to
render the most difficult sacred selections for the religious services,
which are held on every Sunday, as well as a great variety of songs
and choruses for the secular entertainments.

These have been of great benefit to the poor unfortunates in
that department. Music is beneficial to them in many respects ;
it breaks the monotony of their lives and takes their minds off of
their imaginary troubles. If the truth were known there is no

35.5

356 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

doubt that mauy recoveries could be traced to the soothing influ-
ence of music and the songs furnished at the entertainments.

Bmployment is another great help, and every opportunity was
embraced to introduce and extend it. At the request of the Super-
intendent, a workshop was fitted up in the kitchen that had been
erected by the Mary Shields' estate, and which was replaced by the
larger one erected in 1891, and the expense of alterations, tools,
etc., was defrayed by the same estate. A brush-making shop was
started with gratif3dng success, and furnished employment for
thirty-three patients. After a sufficient number of brushes to
furnish the institution was made, it was turned into a mattress fac-
tory. All of the ticking, fibre for filling, twine, etc., required has
been paid for by the Mary Shields' estate, and while it has been
the means of furnishing employment it has also given hundreds of
first-class mattresses to the insane and hospital departments to take
the place of the straw beds that had previously been used. The
average number employed in various ways during the year was,
males, 295; females, 313. Dr. Hughes in one of his annual
reports said : " It is unquestionable that the prompt use of intelli-
gent emplo3anent has done wonders in establishing rapid con-
valescence and complete restoration in a very large number of
cases."

The astounding increase of insane cases that came to the
institution that began in 1892, continued. The Superint<^ndent in
his report for the year 1896, said, " The crow^ded condition of the
insane department was somewhat relieved by the transfer cf 41
chronic cases to the asylum at Wernersville. We have good
accommodations for 1050 patients, and all above that number is at
the expense of the comfort of the others. It is necessary that
steps should be taken at once to relieve the crowded condition of
this department, and I would again suggest that the quickest and,
I think, the best would be to have the Acts exempting the other
poor districts in the County from the operation of the law placing
Almshouses and Hospitals under the control and management of
this Department, amended or repealed. If we had possession of
the Oxford and Lower Dublin Almshouse, buildings sufficient for

History of Philadelpliia Almshouses and Hospitals. 3-57

present ptirposes at least could soon be erected, and our surplus
removed there."

President Lambert, in his annual report to the Mayor, said :
*'The most serious and urgent need of the Department is increased
accommodation for the insane. The increase in number of these
unfortunates demanding our care has exceeded our ability to prop-
erly house them — the number in the institution at this date is
1228, an increase of 337, since December 31st, 1891. The capacity
of the insane wards is 1050, the excess of that number are cared for
at the expense of all.

" The cession to other institutions of the greater and better
portion of the grounds formerly controlled by the Department, out-
side of the walls surrounding its main buildings have rendered
impossible the erection of additional and cuitable buildings for the
accommodation of our increased population. The number of build-
ings already within the enclosure precludes any material addition.

" Even if new buildings were allowed by the State Board of
Public Charities, they would necessarily be small and give but
scanty and temporary relief. The crowded condition of the State
Hospitals for the Insane which has prevented them from relieving
us to any appreciable extent forbids hope for help from them.

" Provision has been made in the recent loan bill for purchase
of a site for a new Almshouse — but the relief which would be
furnished by erection of the building is too far remote to assist in
meeting present needs.

" In this emergency the onl}^ prospect of relief which presents
itself is that which would follow such amendment to existing laws
as would place within the control of this Department all of the
poor-houses of the County — several of which are and have been
since the Act of Consolidation in charge of separate boards of
directors. Whatever local influences in earlier years sufficed to
secure to these separate existence should have little force now —
when the numbers sheltered in the suburban poorhouses are few in
number, and utterly disproportionate to the space they occupy —
wiiilst the main City institution is crowded to excess. The addi-
tion to our resources of the grounds of the Oxford and Lower Dub-

358 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

lin Almshouse would enable us within a few weeks or months at
most to give relief to our insane — provide for the City's needs in
this respect for years to come, and permit the question of removal
of the Almshouse and Hospital to be treated with proper delibera-
tion and regard to the great interests involved. Humanity
demands speedy relief for our insane patients, and we ask for our
suggestion your earnest attention, and, if as we hope it shall meet
with your approval, that by all means in your power, you strive to
put it into practical effect."

That was an earnest plea, from a kind-hearted official, for relief
for the poor unfortunate wards of the City, but it did not succeed
in accomplishing the object sought.

The term of office of the President and Directors of the De-
partment who had been appointed by Mayor Stuart expired on the
first Monday of April, 1S97, and Mayor Warwick appointed a new
Board, composed of William H. Lambert, President, Messrs. Alfred
Moore, William D. Gardner, Joseph H. Mann and Henry B. Gross.

IMessrs. Lambert, Moore and Gardner had served on the old
Board and were re-appointed ; Messrs. Mann and Gross took the
places of Dr. Walk and Mr. Shallcross.

President Lambert in his annual report for 1S97, said: '' The
continuous increase in the number of insane committed to our care
and our inability to provide adequate accommodations for them
still constitutes the most serious condition which confronts the
Department.

'' We had hoped that favorable action would be taken by the
Legislature of the State upon the proposition to place under con-
trol of this Department, the several poor districts of the County
which are in charge of independent local boards of directors ; but
being disappointed in this we were forced to resort to other methods
for the relief of our crowded wards. The practical impossibility of
erecting new buildings within our enclosure compelled us to ask
assent of the State Board of Charities to place an additional or
third-story upon each of the four two-story buildings of the Insane
Department ; an assent which that Board was reluctant to give,
because of its pronounced policy of limiting hospital buildings to

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 359

the height of two stories, but which they granted, because con-
vinced that under existing circumstances there was no early pros-
pect of relief in any other manner.

" So authorized, we received your consent to apply to Councils
for an appropriation of the balance, $40,663.83, remaining in the
Sinking Fund to the credit of this Department. The appropria-
tion was made, plans were prepared which had the approval of the
State Board of Charities, and proposals were received from several
builders, including some of the highest standing ; but, unfortu-
nately, even under the lowest bid, the amount at our disposal was
only sufficient to allow the erection of the additional stories on two
of the four buildings, and to make no provision for the change in
heating. The pressure for room was, however, so great that we
could not postpone action until sufficient funds for the entire work
could be obtained, and accordingly contract was made for such of
the work as could be done.

" The additional stories, one in the male and another in the
female wings, have been erected, and though not 3'et completed, we
hope to have them available in the coming year, and thus have
space for about tM'o hundred more patients ; but as the number to
be provided for is still in excess of our accommodations, even with
the new wards, it is imperative that provision be made this 3'ear to
properly house at least two hundred more, and to this end we shall
ask your consent to apply to Cit}' Councils for an additional appro-
priation of $60,000, to enable us to complete the work.

" Humanity and sense of duty would demand that we urge
this appropriation in any event ; but we are impelled as well by the
necessity of making adequate provision for the insane to enable us
to secure the benefit of recent legislation.

"At the last session of the Legislature an act was passed,
which was approved by the Governor, providing that " any count}',
municipality, borough or township of this Commonwealth, which
has now or may hereafter supply, erect and equip a suitable insti-
tution for the maintenance, care and treatment of its indigent
insane upon plans and specifications approved in writing by the
Board of Public Charities, shall receive from the State Treasury

360 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

the sum of one dollar and fifty cents per week for every indigent

insane person so maintained provided that the

Board of Public Charities shall be satisfied that the quality and
equipment of such institution, and the manner and care and treat-
ment therein furnished, is proper and suitable to the class or classes
of the indigent insane so maintained, and shall so certify to the
Auditor-General before any such payment shall be made.

" Under the provisions of this Act, which went into effect June
I, 1897, we have presented bills to the xAuditor-General for the two
quarters ending August 31st and November 30th respectively,
amounting to $50,371.07.

" To comply with the terms of the Act, it will be absolutely
necessary for us to increase our accommodations for the insane,
because to crowd our wards still further will violate the conditions
requisite to secure the compensation offered by the State.

" We have no choice between caring for the insane of our county
in our own institutions and sending them to State hospitals, because
the}^ are filled to the limit of their capacity, and no provision has
been made for increase of their size or for addition to their number.

'' In fact the Act above referred to was passed because the State
recognized the inadequacy of its provisions for the indigent insane,
and in preference to increasing the number or the size of its hospi-
tals, offered inducements to the counties to care for their insane in
institutions of their own. The State Board of Charities, having
recommended this action, is urging the several counties to accept
the State's offer, so that it is probable the new policy will be per-
manent unless experience shall demonstrate its inadvisability ; but
meanwhile this department must be empowered to care properly
for its insane, and we shall confidently appeal to you, and through
3^ou to Councils, for the requisite means and authority."

The final transfer of Almshouse ground was made to the
Trustees of the Philadelphia Museums on November 22d, 1897.
This took in the marsh land between the line of the railroad and
the Schuylkill river, which had been made a public dump and had
been filled in with ashes, old tin cans and rubbish of all kinds.
It is instructive as well as amusing to read the preamble and pro-

History of Phliadelpliia Hospitals and Almshuses. 361

visos attached to the ordinance. It was stated that the collections
under the care of the said Trustees contained many seeds and
plants particularly adapted to the development of a botanic and
economic garden ; and such a garden would be a great ornament
and of much advantage to the City of Philadelphia ; and those
portions of the Almshouse grounds which were set apart for park
purposes were specially adapted for the purposes of a botanic and
economic garden.

The ordinance provided that the property should be forthwith
opened for use as a public park forever, and should be assigned in
trust, to the Board of Trustees of the Philadelphia Museums, for
the purpose of developing and maintaining a botanic and economic
garden and a public park. It provided that said garden and park
should be forever open to free access of the public at all times, etc.
It also provided that no building or buildings of any kind, charac-
ter or description should be erected on the grounds transferred b}'
the several ordinances save such as were necessary and suitable for
the development and maintenance of the aforesaid park and botanic
and economic garden.

How much of these agreements have been complied with can
be seen by a visit to the grounds.

President Lambert made a final appeal for relief for the insane
patients in his annual report for 1898. He said in part: "The
following table exhibits the population of the insane department
on the first day of January in each year for the past ten 3'ears and
the number of admissions during that period :

Date. Population. Admis.<=ions.

January ist, 1889 760 306

" 1890 824 .... • 283

" 1891 880 278

" 1892 891 497

" " 1893 1010 466

" 1894 1050 . . . . • 479

" 1895 1114 521

" 1896 1149 591

" " 1897 1228 592

" 1898 1327 • 598

" 1899 1378

362 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

" The steady and alarming increase in the number of insane
patients demands increased provision for their proper care.

" The taking of the Pennsylvania Railroad, the transfer by
ordinance of Councils, through sale, or gift, or in trust to the
University of Pennsylvania and to the Commercial Museums have
deprived the Department of the greater part of the land which had
been dedicated, to Almshouse purposes. The only ground now
under our control is that portion within the walls occupied by the
hospitals and out-wards, and the small exterior part occupied by
the childrens' house, the barn and stable and appertaining build-
ings. There is, therefore, no land available for the additional
buildings so greatly needed. In the judgment of the Directors
there can be no enlargement of present buildings beyond the
addition of stories to two wings of the insane wards, for which
appropriation has been asked. For reasons stated in my lasl
report, there is no probability that the State will relieve the City
of the care of any considerable number of insane ; the hope that
legislation could be secured, transferring to the Department the
care and control of the three independent Almshouses in the
county, appears to have been ill-founded, and there is little pros-
pect that relief can be obtained in that direction ; and it is, there-
fore, imperative that measures be taken at once to obtain means
for the purchase of ground elsewhere and the erection thereon of
an Insane Hospital of modern construction and equipment large
enough to accommodate the patients now in our charge, and to
provide for the inevitable increase in their number.

" With such provision made for the insane and the relief
which would thus be given to the institution, it is probable that
the present buildings, with such alterations as could then be made,
would suffice for the City's needs for years to come

" An insane hospital commensurate with the requirements of
this municipality should provide at once for a much larger num-
ber than our present population, and be capable of expansion to
meet the needs of the future, and in view of the probability that
ultimately the other portions of the Almshouse will be removed
from its present location, sufficient land should be secured also to

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 363

allow erection thereon of buildings for hospital and out-ward
purposes."

This was President Lambert's last report, as he severed his
connection with the Department shortly after it was written.

On January Sth, 1899, Mr. Joseph H. Mann died after a pro-
tracted illness. Mr. Mann had given active attention to his duties
as a member of the Board during the time that his health per-
mitted ; the work was congenial by reason of his sympathetic
nature.

Dr. Joseph S. Ne£f was appointed to fill the vacancy, Feb-
ruary 2d.

On March 24th Mr. Henry B. Gross resigned, owing to
pressure of business.

On April 3d Major William H. Lambert, who had been a
member since April, 1892, and President of the Board since Octo-
ber, 1892, tendered his resignation and the City lost one of its best
officials. Conscientious, proficient, impartial, attentive and kind in
the discharge of his manifold duties he was eminently fitted for the
office, and his loss was severely felt by all with whom he had been
associated.

Mr. Wm. D. Gardner was appointed President pro tempore.

On April 20th, Mr. Albert H. Dingee, and on May i8th. Dr.
C. S. Middleton, were appointed members of the Board.

' CHAPTER XXXIV.

SUPERINTENDENT LAWRENCE RESIGNS— HIvS STATEMENT TO THE

BOARD.

SUPERINTENDENT LAWRENCE tendered his resigna-
tion which took effect on May 15th, 1900. At the last
meeting of the Bureau of Charities, previous to that date,
he made the following statement, and as it gives a brief his-
tory of what was accomplished during his administration it is
quoted :

" To the Preside7it and Directors of the Department of Charities
and Cor7'ection :

" Gentlemen : — I respectfull}^ submit the following statement *
When I came to this Institution, in May, 1891, the grounds were
surrounded by high wooden fences, some of which were shored up
to prevent falling, unsightly in appearance, and frequently blown
down. The interior walls and ceilings of most of the buildings had
been white-washed year after year and were covered with scales.
Floors and joists were rotten, and an unpleasant smell pervaded.
Old, unsightly rookeries, which had long outlived their usefulness,
could be seen on all sides. These conditions have all been changed.

" There was so much to do that it was a question as to which
should be done first, as it was impossible to do all at once.

* " The erection of additional buildings for the insane was
commenced. They consisted of two ward buildings, shaped like a
T, on the ground plan, measuring 50 feet 9 inches by 80 feet 4
inches on the stem, and 50 feet 9 inches by 129 feet on the head.
The associate dining room, 294 feet long and 104 feet wide, was
built between these buildings, and separates the male and female
grounds. In that year we commenced the erection of a stone wall
around the grounds, to take the place of the old fences. We con-
tinued that from year to 3^ear until it was completed, it being about
a mile in length, 2 feet thick, with foundations 4 feet below the

*See illustrations.

364

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 365

surface and lo feet above ground, except that in front of the main
building, which is 4 feet above ground, with a capping and an open
iron fence 3 feet 6 inches high on top.

''It was estimated that it would cost $15,000 to fill in and
grade the grounds between the insane buildings. It was decided
to build the wall, on the west side of the grounds, on the line of
Guardian Avenue, which was about 150 feet bej^ond the line of the
old fence. It was necessary to establish a grade before the wall
could be erected. W. H. Jones, Esq., the Surveyor of this District,
kindly had the stakes driven for us. The grade fixed upon neces-
sitated the removal of earth to the depth of 6 feet 9 inches at one
point, running off to lower ground at the ends. As the ground to
be graded was about 1000 feet long and 150 feet wide, a number of
horses and carts were employed to remove the dirt, and it was used
for filling in and grading the grounds of the Insane Department.
As the cost for carts was only about $3,000, and the digging and
grading was done by men from the House of Correction, it can be
seen that a considerable part of the $15,000 was saved, and we
graded two grounds instead of one. The stone used for the walls
was sent from the House of Correction.

" I found the nurses in the hospital were sleeping in little cub-
bies erected in the wards. They were very much crowded and did
not have the necessary accessories to make them comfortable. I
recommended the erection of a building for their use for several
reasons : First, to provide better accommodations for the nurses ;
second, to obtain more room for patients in the hospital by vacating
the wards occupied by the nurses ; third, to enable us to remove
the old receiving wards to the rooms used as offices and reception
room for nurses ; fourth, to enlarge the drug store by adding to it
the room used as a class room for nurses, and also to tear down the
old rookeries then used as the receiving wards.

" A brick building containing seventy-five rooms was erected
for the nurses, and all of the other improvements were made.

" Back of the woman's outwards a lot of old buildings, built
at different times of any and all kinds of material — part brick, an
addition of stone and then another of wood, of all heights and

366 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

shapes, with no regard to appearance, were used as a laundry.
They were an eye sore and not fit for the purpose. A new building,
equipped with modern appliances, including sterilizing, and having
capacity for washing 35,000 pieces weekly, was erected on the
reclaimed ground and the old buildings were demolished. All of
the grounds back of that part of the institution have been beauti-
fied ; grass plots and terraces have taken the place of dirt and mud,
and cement walks have been laid where old boards had been used
before.

" President Lambert remarked : ' One can hardly realize the
great improvement made, as the entire character of the place is
changed.'

" An old shanty known as the ' dirty wash-house ' was leaning
against the wall in the hospital yard, opposite to the Maternity
building. A tumble-down sort of fence running from wall to wall
separated it from the men's nervous grounds ; clothes lines were
strung across, and all kinds of filthy rags, bandages and soiled bed
clothes could be seen fluttering in the winds. Those conditions
would have disgraced the slums of any part of the country. That
blot was wiped out, the shanty torn down, the clothes washed in
the laundry and the grounds cleared.

" The Clinic Hall v/as an old stone building with a flat roof,
and no ventilation or light excepting what was furnished by two
small windows. The interior was about like an old barn. During
the clinical recess of one year we repaired and plastered the exterior
and put on a pitched roof, with iron girders, and large skylight.
In the next summer the interior was torn out and remodeled, new
ash seats with walnut caps on the backs were put in, the operating
floor was laid in cement, and the partitions faced with glazed tiles.
The steam pipes were put under the seats, and iron steps with open
rizers allow the heat to enter the building freely. The medical
staff" was so much pleased with the improvements made that it was
thought proper to have the re-opening made an event in the history
of the institution. President Lambert, in his report, said : ' Great
satisfaction has been expressed concerning this improvement, and
it has been declared to be the finest hall of its kind in this country.'

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 367

" An old wooden building known as Clover Hall, which was
nothing but a disreputable loafing place, where some of the patients
were in the habit of playing cards, and a small brick structure,
together with a lot of rabbit boxes, coops, etc., at one time used for
experimental purposes, were demolished, and on the place occupied
we built a brick annex to the Clinic Hall, containing two rooms
for sterilizing and dressings.

" Down by the stables a dilapidated, leaky white-washed shed
had stood for years, and under it the wagons and ambulances were
stored. A narrow stable and carriage house combined, in which a
few of the driving horses were kept, stood opposite ; the other
horses were in an old cow stable, a few small holes having been
knocked through the walls for ventilation. The old shed was torn
down, and from designs which I made a neat brick structure was
erected, in which there is room for all the carriages, wagons and
ambulances belonging to the institution. It has Uvo stories in the
center, and two rooms, i8 by 18 feet, furnish sleeping accommoda-
tions for the drivers and stable help.

" I recommended the erection of an isolating building for the
treatment of any contagious or infectious disease that might
develop in the institution. It was built. President Lambert, in
referring to it, said : ' The Isolating Building is of novel construc-
tion, was designed b}^ the Superintendent, and erected from plans
made by him. It is built of brick, one story high. It contains
fourteen rooms for patients, two rooms for nurses, bath rooms and
lavatories, and ample provision is made for heat and ventilation.
The walls, floors and ceilings are covered with cement : '

" In the following year he said : ' The value of the isolation
wards has been proved by the large number of cases treated there
with success and without detriment to the other patients of the
institution.' '^'"

" I found that broken coal was being used for making steam.
I recommended the changing of the grates under the boilers to
allow us to use small coal, at a greatly reduced cost. Thousands
of dollars have been saved by that change.

* See illustration.

368 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

" The Maternity btiildings were supplied with heat and hot
water from a boiler in a small building adjoining it. This was a
very expensive plan, for aside from the cost of coal, two men were
required, one during the day and the other at night, to attend the
fire. I suggested that pipes be laid to the hospital cellar and con.
nections made to the main steam pipes ; we laid the pipes, and now
they are supplied from the main boilers and considerable expense
saved.

'• On the night of August 14, 1895, a fire of unknown origin
occurred in the laundry of the Insane Department, and spread to
the storeliouse adjoining, destroying the two buildings and con-
tents. The fire was confined to those buildings, and although it
was in proximity to the Insane Department, there was no panic,
the patients being promptly removed to the wards in the rear, and
no one was injured. President L-ambert, in bis report, said : ' Great
credit is due Superintendent Lawrence for excellent management
under exciting circumstances, and for his prompt disposition to
meet the emergency.' Supplies had to be procured immediately
and temporary store rooms fitted up. The food was procured and
the meals furnished as usual.

" We collected the insurance money and rebuilt the buildings ;
we improved the storehouse very much b}'- putting a hip roof with
girders and trusses in place of the low fiat one that was on it
previous to the fire. Two large skylights were erected, and now
v.^e have a well-lighted store, with a cement floor,- 125 by 40 feet,
entirely free of posts, with excellent ventilation and the modern
appliances. The laundry was built of brick, two stories high, with
rooms for washing, drying and ironing on the lower floor and three
work rooms, about 50 by 20 feet, on the upper.

" We planted a 70 foot mast, with 40 foot topmast, on the
ground in front of the main building. It is fitted with cross trees
and shrouds, and is one of the handsomest flagstaffs to be found
anywhere. The American flag, 100 feet above the ground, can be
seen flying from the stpfif whenever the weather permits.

" The ground upon which the barn stood was transferred to
the Universit}^ of Pennsylvania, and Councils made an appropria-

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 369

tion of $6,000 for the erection of a new building to take the place
of the old one, and we built a stable 100 by 40 feet, of brick, two
stories in height. The lower floor is for the horses and has twenty-
two stalls, two of which are large box stalls ; the floor is cemented
and covered with plank, in the stalls, for the horses to stand on. It
is supplied with water, gas and underground drainage ; harness and
feed rooms are at one end and two stairwa3^s lead to the upper floor.
A large room for hay and straw is secured in the second story, and
as all of the straw beds required for the institution are filled there,
it requires considerable space for that purpose. We laid a cement
drive around the building, graded and sodded the grounds, and
enclosed the whole with a neat picket fence. We could not have
had as good a building erected b}^ contract for $10,000. President
Lambert's report said : ' The building erected on plans prepared
by the Superintendent is commodious and well adapted for the
purposes of the institution.'

" I recommended the introduction of a plant to manufacture
the ice needed ; an old two-story stone building that had at one
time been used to put old vermin covered clothing into pickle, was
remodeled, thoroughly repaired, new roof with skylight put on,
cleaned and painted, and the machinery put in. We have not
bought any ice since, the cost of the plant was saved in the first
year, and we save thousands of dollars annually. Undertakers
had been obliged to pay $1.00 for ice for each body removed from
the Mortuary Building for burial. That imposition was stopped
and no charge was allowed to be made. The money collected in
that way was not paid into the Cit}^ Treasury.

" I recommended the extension of the electric lighting system.
We purchased the extra dynamos and engine, enlarged the dynamo
house, laid the wires underground and made all connections with
our own labor. All of the wards of the institution are lighted by
electricity during the early evening, and the halls, stairways and
lavatories have the light all night. This is a decided improvement,
with less danger from fire, and if we had to use and pay for the gas
that is dispensed with, it would cost thousands of dollars annuall3^

" Through the courtesy of Hon. A. AI. Beitler, Director of
24

370 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals-

Public Safety, we procured a condemned steam fire engine. We
put it in thorougli repair and built a house to put it in. I recom-
mended the purchase of a chemical engine. It was procured ; and
now, with these and the hose carts, hose on brackets attached to
water pipes throughout the institution, fire extinguishers, etc., we
•are prepared for emergencies.

" Our water supply was furnished by a four-inch pipe, which
had been in use for years and was not sufficient. I recommended
and we laid a six-inch main, and connected the old one and the fire
lines to it. We also succeeded in getting the Water Department
to lay an eight-inch main around the outside of the buildings, and
it is attached to those on the inside, so a largely increased supply
is secured.

"As we did not have the proper facilities for making the large
amount of bread required, we enlarged the bake house by adding
an annex i6 by 32 feet. Another oven was built and a steam
dough mixer erected. This machine will mix five barrels of flour
at one time, and in about twelve minutes will produce better dough
than men could make by hand. As we bake twenty-two barrels of
flour per day during portions of the year, this is of great assistance.

" The meat house was remodeled and improved. The old floor
and joists were taken out, new joists put in and a plank floor put
down. A concrete surface was laid on the planks. An additional
brick building was erected alongside of it, and in one end a refriger-
ator was built, lined with hard wood. This makes excellent cold
storage for meat, milk and butter. The other end of the building
is used as a fire engine house, in which our steam and chemical
engines and hose cart are kept.

" We erected an additional story on the out-wards kitchen
building, and made two large dining-rooms on the second floor for
the use of the petty officers. In addition to furnishing them with
better accommodations, it enabled us to largely increase the men's
out-wards dining room by adding the portion formerly occupied by
the petty officers to it.

" We procured a switch table from the Electrical Bureau,
through the courtesy of Director Riter, and put telephones through-

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 371

out the institution. The saving of time in sending messages in a
place of this size and character is frequently of great importance.

" Of the many needs of an institution like this, none are
greater than proper facilities for bathing. Cleanliness is abso-
lutely necessary. We erected a bath house 50 feet by 20 feet in a
corner of one of the male insane exercising yards, and put in
eighteen booths with the rain or spray baths. Dressing closets are
opposite the booths, and while some of the patients are being
bathed, others can be prepared.

" The Chief Resident Physician, in his report, says : 'Another
valuable addition to the department during the year was the men's
bath house, fitted with the " rain bath," and capable of satisfacto-
rily and thoroughly bathing eighteen patients at one and the same
time. Two small bath rooms have also been completed in the
women's wards, capable of bathing six women at one and the same
time. It is impossible to speak of the value of this useful addition
to the department, save in the most enthusiastic terms. The
wonder is, how could the department have bathed its large and
growing population without this form of bath ? '

" We have since fitted up bath rooms of the same character in
all parts of the institution, so that ever3^ inmate can have the
benefit of this great improvement over the old iron bath tubs.

'' For the protection of the patients we erected open pavilions,
80 feet by 30 feet, with six rows of seats running lengthwise. One
was built in the male insane yard, two in the women's insane yards
and one in the hospital yard. It is a great comfort to the poor
souls to sit under the shade of these roofs during the hot summer
days. ♦

'' The walls along Vintage iV venue in front of main buildings
were built four feet higli, with open iron fence on top. As the
spaces enclosed by these walls were each about 250 feet long and
60 feet wide, we embraced the opportunity of making a great
improvement in the appearance of the entire front b}^ placing a
number of flower-beds there, instead of the dirt piles, chicken
coops and dog kennels that had formerly occupied the grounds. A
variety of beautiful plants w^ere set out, making a handsome

372 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

display. A garden was also arranged in the men's out-wards
courtyard, in the place where the coal had been piled. With a
fountain in the center, surrounded by beautiful flower-beds, it is
very attractive. We erected a hot-house to enable us to propagate
our plants: this albwed us to set out beds around the grounds,
and we now have them wherever it adds to the cheerfulness of the
place and beautifies the surroundings. '••

" In improving the grounds we took up old worn out brick
sidewalks and laid cement in their stead. All of the streets inside
of the walls were covered with asphaltum, new inlets and drain
pipes laid and curved curbing placed on all of the corners of the
streets. Thousands of yards of cement floors and sidewalks were
laid by our inmate labor and the expense was simply for the mate-
rial used.

" Extensive repairs and improvements were made in all of the
wards of the institution. In the Hospital Department the drug-
store was enlarged, remodeled and put in first-class condition.
New operating rooms were constructed and furnished with the
latest style of instruments, sterilizing apparatus, operating tables,
stretchers, etc. Walls between rooms were torn out and arches
built, improving the light and ventilation. Old floors, joists and
stairways were torn out and replaced by new. Walls and ceilings
stripped, replastered and painted. Ofiices and library fitted up for
doctors and nurses ; in fact, from end to end and from top to bottom
it has been improved and made new.

" In the outwards on both sides, the same kind of work was
done. The remnants of the ' cubbies ' or cell-like compartments
into which the outwards had originally been divided were removed ;
all of the old plaster on walls and ceilings taken off and replastered
with adamantine cement and painted ,- walls torn out and arches
built, making one large ward of several small ones ; wooden
surbases removed and cement substituted; decayed floors, joists
and other wood work condemned and replaced with new and every-
thing connected with the buildings put in thorough repair. Every
thing new except the outside walls.

*See Illustralion.

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 373

'' The old wards of the Insane Department were also entirely
remodeled. We made one ward of five small ones in Ward 2,
male side, and the improvement was so marked that Hon. M. H.
Dickinson, President of the State Board of Charities, remarked,
when visiting it, ' I do not believe there is an institution in the
world that has a ward equal to this.' The old outgrown kitchen
was turned into a well-equipped workshop.

'' In the buildings in which are located Wards 6, 7 and 8, on
both the male and female sides, there were brick walls extending
from the cellars to the roofs, making bath rooms and water closets
on each floor and occupying a space of 37 feet 6 inches by 11 feet
6 inches in the center of each room, leaving but a narrow passage-
wa\' on either side. We tore the walls down, put in joists, floors
and ceilings on each floor and built suitable structures on the
outside of the buildings, with connections from each of the three
floors. There we erected all of the necessary bath rooms, lava-
tories, etc., and have all the conveniences without any odors in the
wards. In addition to the improved sanitary arrangements we gain
space enough to accommodate about thirt}^ more patients in each of
the six wards. All of the wards and ceilings, as well as the corri-
dors and stairways were plastered and painted. Cadwalader Biddle,
Esq., Secretary and Agent of the State Board of Charities, upon
the occasion of a visit remarked ' Nothing short of an inspiration
suggested such a great improvement.'

" xAs a means of relieving the crowded condition of the Insane
Department I suggest that, in my opinion, the best and quickest
would be to repeal the acts which exempted the other poor districts
in the county from the operation of the law placing the almshouses
and hospitals under the control and management of this depart-
ment. If we had possession of the Oxford and Lower Dublin Alms-
houses buildings sufficient for present purposes at least could soon
be erected and our surplus sent there.

" As the Act to accomplish this failed to be passed I recom-
mended the addition of another stor}'- on each of the two-story
buildings in which are located Wards i and 2, and Wards 9 and 10
on both the male and female sides of the Insane department. By

374 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

your request Councils appropriated the balance of $40,663.83
remaining in the Sinking Fund to the credit of this department for
the purpose of commencing the work. Plans were prepared and
approved by the Board of Public Charities, but the amount availa-
ble was onl}' sufficient to enlarge two of the buildings. Councils
were applied to several times to appropriate the money to complete
the work, but tbe request was not complied with. The work that
was done increased the accommodations sufficient for about 175
patients.

" We built stone and brick tunnels from the main boiler house
to the insane wards and from the manufacturing department to the
Hospital buildings, completing underground connection with all
the main buildings ; in these tunnels can be placed all of the steam
pipes and electric ligbt and telephone wires, which are thus accessi-
ble for repair without excavation,

" We utilized the labor of men sent down from the House of
Correction, in a great measure ; tbe digging of trenches required
for walls and tunnels, as well as the grading and filling in around
new buildings was done by these men. The tearing down and
removal of old buildings, hacking and scraping of walls and ceil-
ings, preparing them for plastering; removing the dirt caused 5
tearing up the old floors and in other ways using the labor, saved
the employment of other men and inasmuch as the City would have
to maintain them, it seemed wise to get the benefit of their services
in this manner.

" President Lambert, in one of his reports, said, ' So great have
been the improvements made in the grounds and buildings, so well
have they been kept in repair, that although the main buildings
have been in constant use for more than sixty years without costly
exterior structural changes, they compare favorably with buildings
in similar institutions elsewhere of recent erection and elaborate
and expensive equipment .... We believe tkat their condi-
tion and management will compare favorably with any of like
character in the United States.'

" When persons are received in the Institution all money and
valuables are taken from them and sent to the superintendent's

History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. 375

office for safe keeping. There was only $2,400 accounted for, in a
loose sort of way, when I took charge, although the Institution
had been in existence one hundred and fifty-nine years. I had
proper books prepared and accounts (now numbering 9,590) opened
with every patient. Receipts are given for everything received.
Each person is credited for whatever is brought in ; receipts are
printed at the bottom of each account. When the patients go out
their effects are returned to them and they sign the receipts.

" If an\^ of them should die and have enough to defra}^ funeral
expenses, ihey are decently buried, the undertaker is paid and his
receipt taken. Whatever is left is transferred to the ' deceased
inmates' account,' and each 3'ear a list of the names of those who
have been dead a year or longer is made, stating the name, date of
death and the amounts standing to their credit.

" These sums are paid to the Treasurer and his receipt taken
therefor. As the credits vary from one cent upwards, it requires a
considerable number of accounts to amount to much money.
Nevertheless, I have paid $4,092.03 from that account to the Trea-
surer and have $4,903.62 deposited in bank belonging to the
patients now here.

" To add what I paid to the City to the amount I have in bank
would make $8,995.65, an increase of $6,595.65 over what was
accounted for nine 3^ears ago. Not one cent had ever been paid to
the City from that account until I paid it.

■' Prior to 1883 the several counties of this Commonwealth
were compelled to pay the entire cost of maintaining their indigent
insane, whether they were in a State Hospital for the Insane or in
the county institutions, as the Commonwealth did not contribute
anything for that purpose.

" The Act of June, 1883, provided that 'The expense of the
care and treatment of the indigent insane in the State Hospital for
the Insane shall be divided between the State and Count}' : Pro-
vided, That the maximum charge to the count}^ shall not exceed,
including all charges, the sum of two dollars per week for each
person.'

" The Act of May 21, 1889, fixed a rate of $1.75 per week for

376 History of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals.

the county to pay, the excess over that amount to be paid by the
State.

" No provision was made for the Commonwealth to pay
anything towards defraying the expense of the care and treatment
of the insane in the County institutions.

" I called the attention of the Bureau of Charities to the fact
that nearl}^ all of the counties had all of their insane in State hospi-
tals, and it was only costing them $1.75 per week for their main-
tenance, the balance being paid by the State, while we had more
than 1,000 in our institution that the State hospital would not
receive ; we received nothing from the Commonwealth for them,
the entire expense being borne by the city. I suggested three
remedies to correct the injustice,

"Alfred Moore, Esq., and Dr. J. W. Walk were appointed a
committee to consider this important subject. A bill was prepared
which provided ' That when the proper authorities of any county in
this Commonwealth provide within the county accommodations for
the support of indigent insane persons, which said accommodations
are approved by the Committee on Lunac}^ of the Board of Com-
missioners of Public Charities, the said county shall be entitled to
have maintained in the State Hospital for the Insane, for the proper
district, free of cost to the county, as many indigent insane persons
as are furnished accommodations within the said county.'

''The action of the Bureau of Charities- was referred to Hon.
Edwin S. Stuart, Mayor of the City. He approved it and sent the
reports to Councils with a special message. (See Common Coun-
cil Appendix, Vol. 2, October 1892, to March 1893, pages 826 to
833.) Both branches of Councils recommended the passage of the
bill, and it was p

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